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No big releases in Sandalwood due to World Cup

  • Published in Entertainment
Cricket fever everywhere!!! Analysing this terrific downfall of audience towards movies, Sandalwood filmmakers have postponed the releasing dates of the movies due to World Cup. There are nearly 7-8 movies which are ready to hit the box office, but postponed its releasing dates due to World Cup. Last Week, Raate and Krishna Leela movies were released in Gandhinagara, and both the films have receieved a 'thumbs up' from both Kannada audience.

But, ironically this week there is no big release in Gandhinagara. Two small budget movies 'Mutthina Maleyali' and 'Kaldogbitte' have been released. This depicts, Kannada filmmakers are desperately waiting for the World Cup to get over. Yes, starting from Puneeth Rajkumar's Rana Vikrama till Shivarajkumar's Vajrakaya are ready to hit the big screens. However, there exist the availabilty of theatres and dates. Initially, Vaasthu Prakara will release on April 2 followed by Katte on April 3. There are still more 3-4 movies releasing this April. Continue to read the slideshow to know Kannada movies that are slated to release for April...


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Love is... cheering for your champ!

  • Published in Entertainment
A couple of days back, Virat Kohli professed his love for girlfriend Anushka Sharma on Twitter, telling us how much he loved her last release NH10, watching it as soon as his schedule permitted.

Now, the actress has flown down toAustralia to support her beau in the final leg of the World Cup. The actress, who was overseas on a brand endorsement shoot, took a connecting flight Down Under. She landed on March 23.

The same night, she was spotted having dinner at an Indian restaurant with Virat.

"Initially, she wasn't sure about going to Australia as NH10 was releasing and she was on her promotional rounds. She couldn't leave her film promotions mid-way so she decided to wait and watch. Luckily for her, she wrapped up her professional commitments andIndia has also now reached the semi-finals, so Anushka decided to fly to Sydney a couple of days before for the semi-final against Australia and stay until the weekend.

Depending on whether India makes it to the finals or not, she will be back by either this weekend or the next. She is elated that the Indian team has come this far and she wanted to be there to cheer for the team and of course Virat, hence her presence at the matches", the source reveals.
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India ready to defend World Cup: Tendulkar

  • Published in UAE
Dubai: Being a brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2015, Sachin Tendulkar says he cannot afford to root for India - though it didn’t deter him from showing his heart is in the right place. “I will only say that the defending champions are ready to defend,” the legend said here on Monday.

The Master Blaster, who was unveiled as the brand ambassador of UAE-based Aster DM Healthcare with fanfare at a city hotel, was Down Under to watch India’s opening group league game against Pakistan on February 15. The ‘Men in Blue’ have since then been on a hot streak in the tournament - winning seven matches on the trot as they square off against hosts and favourites Australia in the second semi-final in Sydney on Thursday.

While the assembled media at the press conference were denied an opportunity to field questions, Tendulkar took a trip down down memory lane to speak about his Man of the Tournament performance in 2003 World Cup for being the topscorer with 673 runs. “Unlike this edition, we did not start well in South Africa but then bounced back to win a number of matches on the trot. After the final loss (to Australia), I was so disappointed that I had stuffed in the golden bat presented to me for being the player of the tournament in the coffin without even realising that it was gold-plated.

“It was only after my friends asked for the bat on arrival in Mumbai that I realised it was actually a gold bat,” recalled Tendulkar. It finally took him six World Cups and 22 years to realise a cherished dream when he was chaired by teammates after regaining the World Cup in Mumbai four years ago.

The launch of Tendulkar’s latest brand ambassador role started with short videos on the growth of Aster Group, a leading healthcare provider with 150 outlets in the UAE (the latest one being launched in Abu Dhabi later in the day) and the cricketer himself. Striking the right chord, Tendulkar congratulated the UAE squad which qualified for the 50-overs World Cup but headed home after a first round exit. “My greatest joy is to see the sport globalised over a period of time. The more countries take to playing cricket, it will lead to the birth of new generation of cricketers,” he said.

When the official presenter reminded him of the famous ‘Desert Storm’ innings in Sharjah in 1998, Tendulkar opened up immediately. “Yes, I was thinking about it when I landed here yesterday (Sunday). I had never seen anything like a sand storm before and being of a much lighter frame then, I was standing closer to Adam Gilchrist to ensure that I don’t get blown away,” he said with a chuckle.

“We had lost four-five overs because of the interruption and our target was revised. It was a must-win game for us to make the final and we finally won the trophy. Let me add on a subtle note that something similar may happen in a few days from now,” Tendulkar said.

Commenting on the partnership between Tendulkar and the healthcare group, Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said: “Tendulkar will be a part of our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, helping to spread the message and reach out to public with socially relevant clauses.”

The group, meanwhile, pledged to spend Dh1 million in India over a period of two years over a number of charitable causes as well as awareness drives on road safety.
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India into world cup semi final: Airlines hike fares for Australia

  • Published in National
India into world cup semi final: Airlines hike fares for Australia
New Delhi: With the defending champions India set to take on Australia in the second semi-final of the 2015 ICC World Cup at Sydney on Thursday, airlines have hiked their fares substantially for Down Under.

The fares for Sydney and Melbourne have already shot up by 15-20 per cent in the last one week and the airlines could make a killing off the left over seats if Men in Blue beat the Kangaroos and enter the World Cup final, travel industry executives said today.

"There is definitely a 15-20 per cent surge in economy class fares for Australia after India entered the semi-finals. These fares may rise further if India reaches final as well," travel portal Yatra.com President Sharat Dhall told PTI.

Dhall said that economy class fares from metro airports to the two Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne were averaging over Rs 60,000 at present as against Rs 50,000 last week, adding, "destination from south have seen a higher jump than the northern or western markets."

The two-time World Cup Champions India will clash with Australia on March 26 at Adelaide in the second semi-final of the tournament. South Africa would take on New Zealand in the first semi finals at Auckland on March 24.

The final is scheduled to be held in Melbourne next Sunday. "The fares from Bengaluru and Hyderabad have seen a higher increase as the vacation period commences there earlier than northern or western region and so the travellers have combined it into one trip," he said.

National carrier Air India is the only domestic carrier which operates direct flights to Australia. Other airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Qatar and Emirates all fly to Australia but through their respective hubs.

According to the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) president Iqbal Mulla, though most of the bookings for the two destinations have already taken place, the last few seats may go on a high premium if India beats Australia."In that case, the ticket prices for these sectors may see another 15-20 per cent jump over the current level," he said.

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Hope India remember winless streak against us: Maxwell

  • Published in Cricket
Hope India remember winless streak against us: Maxwell
Sydney: Dashing Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell today said the Indian team should remember that it hasn't won a single game against his side this summer and the hosts intend to keep it that way in Thursday's ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final against the defending champions.

Asked how difficult will it be for Australia to stop the unbeaten Indian juggernaut, Maxwell replied, "I think we targetted them pretty well this summer. They haven't won a game against us all through the summer. Hopefully that is pretty clear in their memories."
"We can make the most of that (all win record). We've been dominant all summer in the ODI format. We want to continue that."

But Maxwell did praise the Indian side for its consistency that helped it reach the last four stage. "India are a very good side. They wouldn't be here in the semi-finals if they weren't a good side. We have to bring our A game when we play them this week," the IPL star said with a note of caution.

Although the media interaction at the Sydney airport "felt like IPL" to Maxwell with only three Aussie reporters in the mix, he didn't feel that playing against Ashwin or Jadeja in the IPL would matter much as his role in this national team set-up is different.
"The IPL is a lot different to the World Cup. It is different pressure and different situation. I bat at No 6 (for Australia) and there are still five guys ahead of me, who are going to be batting first. Hopefully, they can make the most of the conditions. My job is to finish it off."

When someone asked if he reckons the contest to be 50-50, Maxwell had a tongue-in-cheek counter query, "What are the bookmakers saying?"

Many past Aussie greats term the India versus Australia rivalry as the greatest in international cricket currently but for the maverick Maxwell, Ashes is still sacrosanct.
"There are a lot of big rivalries in international cricket. Every team that we play against, there is like some sort of rivalry or history attached. For Australia, the Ashes, is still probably our biggest and oldest rivalry."

Virat Kohli has tormented Australia but Maxwell believes that there won't be separate but a general gameplan for India which has been the case all summer.

"We haven't had a team meet yet, but it will be pretty similar to the summer. We did pretty well during the summer against them. I am sure we will go ahead with similar plans and we will have a few tricks up our sleeve," he answered with a smile.
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Bangladesh were made to lose World Cup quarterfinal to India: PM Hasina

  • Published in World
Dhaka: Wading into the controversy over umpiring decisions in Bangladesh's World Cup quarterfinal loss to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said everyone has seen how the Mashrafe Mortaza-led side was "made to lose".

During a function organised by Bangladeshi expatriates in Melbourne for the national team, Prime Minister Hasina called Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan and greeted the players on the phone.

When Hassan connected a loudspeaker to the phone, Hasina said, "We would have won if the umpires did not give wrong decisions. Inshaallah, Bangladesh will win in the future. Bangladesh will become world champions someday."

She praised the cricketers for their performance in the tournament and hoped they would be able to carry forward the momentum they had in the World Cup.

Hasina told captain Mortaza and his boys not to be upset.

"There's nothing to be upset. Everyone has seen how we were made to lose. We will win in the future," she was quoted as saying by BD News.

Bangladesh were handed a 109-run thrashing by India in the quarterfinal match at the MCG. The only dramatic moment in what was otherwise a clinical Indian performance was when centurion Rohit Sharma got a close no-ball reprieve.

Rohit was on an individual score of 90 and team total on 196 in the 40th over bowled by Rubel Hossain when a marginal 'no-ball' call went in favour of the Indian opener. Rohit went onto add another 47 runs in quick time to help India go past 300-run mark.

Ian Gould was the umpire who adjudged Rubel's full-toss as waist high 'no-ball' with Rohit being holed out at deep mid-wicket boundary. However, TV replays showed that it was a real touch-and-go situation which could have gone either way.

BCB has said it will protest the umpiring in its report to the ICC.

Protests erupted in Bangladesh after the loss with fans voicing their displeasure with the umpiring. Bangladesh captain Mortaza had also expressed his displeasure at a few decisions going against his side.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Mustafa Kamal, a Bangladeshi, also joined the protest saying, "If needed, I will resign from the ICC. Speaking as fan, it appears to me that it (ICC) has become Indian Cricket Council.

There needs to be an investigation. A result was forced on us today."

Rejecting its own President's criticism of the umpiring during Bangladesh's World Cup quarterfinal loss to India, the ICC on Friday said Kamal's outburst against the match officials was "unfortunate" and "baseless".







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World cup 2015: New Zealand cruise into semi final after thrashing West Indies

  • Published in Cricket
Wellington: Martin Guptill's record-shattering double century and Trent Boult's four-wicket haul sent New Zealand sailing into the World Cup semi-finals as they trounced the West Indies by 143 runs on Saturday.

Guptill, dropped on four by Marlon Samuels, finished on 237 not out, the highest individual score in World Cup history and the second largest one-day international innings of all time, as he led New Zealand to 393 for six in their 50 overs at Wellington Stadium.

Boult backed up the opening batsman's feat by taking four for 44 to move to the top of the tournament wicket-takers list with 19 as the West Indies folded for 250 in the 31st over.

The kept up with the required run rate, reaching 200 in the 25th over, but by then they were already seven wickets down.

Chris Gayle, shrugging off the effects of a long-standing back injury, cracked 61 off 33 balls, including eight of the 31 sixes in the match as batsmen on both sides plundered the short boundaries.

New Zealand will now play South Africa in the first semi-final at Auckland's Eden Park on Tuesday, with fellow co-hosts Australia facing defending champions India in Sydney two days later.

New Zealand, favourites for Saturday's match after emerging unbeaten from pool play, had a rocky start when regular batting hero, captain and opener Brendon McCullum, fell cheaply for 12.

But Guptill, coming into form late in the tournament, took up the challenge as he blasted his second successive century after scoring 105 against Bangladesh in New Zealand's concluding pool match.

He chewed up the West Indies attack, hitting 24 fours and 11 sixes from 163 deliveries faced as he overtook the previous best World Cup score of 215 set by Gayle earlier in this tournament against Zimbabwe.

In all one-day internationals, Guptill's unbeaten 237 is second only to Rohit Sharma's 264 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata last year, and broke his own New Zealand record of 189 not out scored against England in 2013.

Following the fall of McCullum, Guptill featured in a 62-run partnership with Kane Williamson (33) and then added a significant 143 in 135 balls with Ross Taylor (42) for the third wicket.

In the closing charge, Guptill and Grant Elliott (27) took 19 balls to add a further 55, as New Zealand posted 153 runs in the final 10 overs to further deflate the West Indies after McCullum won the toss and opted to bat.

Jerome Taylor, who had Guptill dropped in this first over, returned the best figures for the West Indies with three for 71, while Andre Russell took two for 96.

Boult was on the money in his first over when he bowled Johnson Charles for three with his second delivery.

He followed-up with the wickets of Lendl Simmons (12), Samuels (27) and Denesh Ramdin (nought) to have four for 18 after five overs.

Gayle was in a particularly ferocious mood, belting spinner Daniel Vettori out of the attack after one over which cost 21 runs.

In one two-over spell by Tim Southee, Gayle and Samuels hit 33 runs, leaving New Zealand's senior paceman to finish with the less-than-impressive figures of two for 82.

The 36-year-old Vettori broke the Gayle-Samuels partnership when he flung his 1.91 metre (6ft 3in) frame into the air to save a six and pull off a remarkable one-handed catch on the boundary.

 

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Quarter final defeat: Pakistan fans break TV sets after team’s exit from Cricket World Cup

  • Published in Cricket
Quarter final defeat: Pakistan fans break TV sets after team’s exit from Cricket World Cup
Islamabad: Pakistan fans smashed their televisions in anger in Multan after the national team was ousted from the Cricket World Cup quarterfinals by Australia on Friday.

Local TV channels showed a handful of people taking their TVs outside and breaking them on the streets after the six-wicket loss in Adelaide, Australia.

Pakistan won the toss and batted poorly in being dismissed for 213. Australia, thanks to two dropped catches by Pakistan, overhauled that total with more than 16 overs to spare.

 

"It was a good batting wicket, and Pakistan should have scored 270, but our immature batting lineup doesn't have the capacity to even bat out a full 50 overs," former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar told Geo TV.

Akhtar rued the absence of fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, who was sidelined by a hip injury.

"In the absence of an unfit Irfan, Pakistan was left with just one strike bowler in Wahab Riaz," he said.

Murtaza Badar, a 24-year-old businessman from Rawalpindi, expected Pakistan to do much better.

"I switched off my TV and got back to work once Pakistan gave the target of only 214 runs," Badar told The Associated Press. "How long are we going to see old faces in the team, who are simply doing nothing?"

Two of those old faces, captain Misbah-ul-Haq and former skipper Shahid Afridi, retired from one-day internationals after the loss.

Misbah, who made his ODI debut in 2002, took over the captaincy after the last World Cup, where Afridi led the team to the semifinals. Misbah was the leading Pakistan run-scorer at the World Cup with 350, seventh best of all-comers.

Afridi played his first ODI in 1996 at 16, and will carry on as the Twenty20 captain. Just as Misbah will continue as the test captain.

But their ODI achievements will be acknowledged by the Pakistan Cricket Board when they return home.

"I take this opportunity to convey my personal appreciation for their immense contribution to Pakistan cricket. We shall honor them on their return to Pakistan," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said in a statement.

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