Sports
Colombia recall Bacca, Zapata for World Cup qualifiers
Barranquilla (Colombia), Sep 30 (IANS) Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has recalled Villarreal striker Carlos Bacca and Sampdoria forward Duvan Zapata for his team’s final 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.
Both players were overlooked for Colombia’s last qualifiers against Venezuela and Brazil but forced their way back into the squad with recent goals for their respective clubs, reports Xinhua news agency.
Bacca has netted twice in seven matches this season for Villarreal while Zapata has two goals in three games for Sampdoria.
Midfielder Matheus Uribe and defender Stefan Medina also returned to Pekerman’s squad after missing the last fixtures because of injury.
As expected, AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao and Bayern Munich midfielder James Rodriguez were named in the 26-man squad.
Colombia, third in the South American zone standings with 26 points from 16 matches, will host Paraguay in Barranquilla next Thursday before facing Peru in Lima five days later.
The top four teams in the CONMEBOL group will earn an automatic World Cup place while the fifth-ranked team will advance to a play-off against New Zealand.
–IANS
ajb/bg
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.
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