MOHALI: The start of the third Test between India and Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium was indefinitely delayed due to heavy downpour in Mohali on Thursday.

MUNICH (Germany): Arsenal became the last English club to bow out of the Champions League on Wednesday despite a 2-0 second-leg win at Bayern Munich as the Gunners lost their last-16 tie on away goals.

CHANDIGARH: Those jinxed knees have once again come to the fore. Indian cricket's rising star Cheteshwar Pujara was hit on the left knee by a local bowler while he was batting in the nets on Monday.

The batsman looked in considerable pain as he left the nets immediately. Thankfully, it wasn't the fragile right knee - which was operated upon in 2011 - which kept the Saurashtra batsman out of action for nearly a year.

POH (Malaysia): A spirited India notched up a come-from-behind 3-1 win over arch-rivals Pakistan in a must-win match to keep alive their hopes in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, on Tuesday.

India were in a spot of bother ahead of the match after losing their opening two encounters, and another loss would have virtually shut the door on Michael Nobbs' wards.

SYDNEY: Australia coach Mickey Arthur on Wednesday said a team culture including unacceptable "back-chat" and "attitude" forced him to controversially axe four players for the next Test in India.

CHANDIGARH: The touring Australian team management stunned the cricketing world on Monday by axing four key players - vice-captain Shane Watson, bowling spearhead James Pattinson, pacer Mitchell Johnson and batsman Usman Khawaja - from the team the upcoming third Test against India for failing to make a presentation on how to improve their personal as well as team's performance.

FATEHGARH SAHIB/CHANDIGARH: Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh was questioned for five hours by the police at Panchkula Police Lines on Monday in connection with the recovery of 26 kg of heroin worth Rs 130 crore last week. Asked by a team comprising both Punjab and Haryana police for his hair and blood samples, Vijender refused saying he would find it humiliating.

HYDERABAD: Saina Nehwal experienced the 'so-near-yet-so-far' feeling after her disheartening loss in the semifinals of the All-England Championships last week.

The Indian, who was favourite to annex the prestigious title after ousting the last Chinese star and former champion Shixian Wang in the quarterfinals, suffered a stunning reversal in the hands of Thailand's teen shuttler Ratchanok Intanon in the semifinal.

CHANDIGARH: The first practice session, after a two-day lay off was intense for the Aussies. The hiding that the team received in the first two Test matches was rankling skipper Michael Clarke, but a greenish tinge on the pitch definitely pleased the Australian captain.

The assurance from the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) that the track will retain its traditional flavour, came as a pleasant surprise for the Aussies.

MADRID: Lionel Messi has often said personal accolades are secondary to the fortunes of the team and Barcelona's Argentina forward would probably swap all four of his World Player of the Year awards for a comeback success against AC Milan on Tuesday.

Barca's hopes of a third Champions League crown in five years are hanging by a thread after Milan surprised them 2-0 at the San Siro in last month's last-16, first leg.