xtra layer of intrigue to the situation. Nevertheless, even with a lot of extra time on his hands, Sale said he paid no attention to the rumor mill.I dont read the newspaper

In March this year, India womens World Twenty20 campaign went up in smoke after their defeat to eventual winners West Indies women in a must-win clash. A team that was building up to challenge other contenders like Australia and England perhaps wilted under the pressure of expectation and playing on the biggest stage at home. Yet, the team management drew solace from the fact that the young side would only learn from the experience. Mithali Raj, the captain, said such situations will only make the side tougher, when asked if it was stage fright.The problem, though, has been that such situations havent come about as often as Raj and Co would have liked. The BCCIs promise of more cricket to have them match-ready for the World Cup may have raised hopes, but it has not quite translated into action.The team has not played an international fixture in nine months, and is preparing for a three-match ODI series at home against West Indies on the back of a month-long camp, a hastily-arranged Challenger series and the domestic one-day competition, where a majority of the first set of group matches were washed out. The rest were played on damp wickets, where Railways, with the presence of more than half the Indian squad, defended their title. It was largely a one-sided affair.It is against this backdrop that the side will prepare for the ODI series against West Indies, which starts in Vijayawada on November 10. The matches will count towards the ICC Womens Championship that aims to identify four direct qualifiers for the World Cup, to be played in England next year. As things stand, Australia are the only side assured of direct entry, while England and West Indies are each one win away from securing their berths. That leaves three teams - New Zealand, South Africa and India - potentially fighting for one slot.But with Indias fixtures against Pakistan under a cloud - they could potentially lose six points - because of political tensions, the matches against West Indies could effectively be their last. Even a 3-0 whitewash may not be enough to finish in the top four, which means they are all but certain to head into the World Cup qualifiers in Sri Lanka in February.In a way, it is good that we get to play the qualifiers, because we get more game time before the World Cup, Raj said. We will also get to play those four teams which we might be facing in the World Cup. It will be good, I think, given what the situation is. Ideally, it would have been nice to qualify directly, but we will look at this as an opportunity to play more matches.The West Indies series will be important to narrow in on combinations for the World Cup. Allrounder Mona Meshram, legspinner Devika Vaidya and left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht have been recalled, while uncapped seamer Sukanya Parida has also earned a call-up. Meshram last played for India in April 2013, Vaidya has played only one T20I for India in November, 2014, and is uncapped in ODIs. Bisht had missed the home ODIs against Sri Lanka earlier this year.With Raj hinting at the 2017 World Cup being her last, the team management and selectors have identified Harmanpreet Kaur as a potential leader, at least for the shortest format to begin with. But, with the focus firmly on ODIs, as was the case with T20Is last season, Purnima Rau, the coach, underlined the importance of making every opportunity count.In that sense, this will be a test for Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet, who are both set to play in the Womens Big Bash League later in the season, to carry the teams batting and ease the burden on Raj. Theres also an opportunity for Veda Krishnamurthy to showcase consistency. The bowling department, led by Jhulan Goswami, is spin-heavy. Only time will tell if thats a conscious decision, though, considering it is West Indies weakness.That the series has been scheduled at a venue that the teams described as spin friendly may prove to be a blessing in disguise, considering the World Cup qualifiers in Colombo will be played in similar conditions. A solid show against West Indies could possibly be a giant leap in Indias quest to qualify for the World Cup. 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In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Wholesale Shoes NZ Online .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later.CHICAGO -- White Sox ace Chris Sale?said he felt like he was out on an island for five days. He was back in more comfortable terrain Thursday: on the pitchers mound at Wrigley field. And now Sale is anxious to put his recent controversy to bed.This is what I signed up for, is to play baseball, Sale said Thursday night. So it was nice to get out there and pitch again.Sale, considered the front-runner in this seasons chase for the American League Cy Young Award, overcame early command problems Thursday to hold the Cubs to two runs over six innings. Nevertheless, Sale (14-4) took the loss in the Cubs 3-1 win and missed out on a chance to become the first 15-game winner in the AL this season.I thought he pitched a good game, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. You know, he had a walk and a hit by pitch that ends up costing us. But he pitched a good game.Of his outing, Sale said, Felt good. First couple, I was knocking the rust off a little bit. [Catcher] Dioner [Navarro] really did a great job of getting me through that.The rust was most evident in one regard: a lack of strikeouts. Even though Sale punched out four Cubs looking, none of those Ks occurred during the first three innings. According to ESPN Stats & Info research, that hadnt happened to Sale in any of his previous 135 career starts.Of course, the focus before, during and after Sales outing was not on his performance on the mound. He returned to the White Sox on Thursday after serving a five-day suspension for a much-publicized incident in which he cut up some throwback jerseys that were to be worn Saturday in a game against Detroit.Sales postgame news conference marked his first time addressing the general media, and although he spoke for 10 minutes, he didnt want to delve into specifics about the incident.Listen guys, I dont want to get too far into it, Sale said. It is what it is. Its in the past. Just look to the future and try to make things right, make things better and win ballgames.Regrets?I regret not being there for my guys. Im a pitcher, called upon every fifth dday.dddddddddddd If I cant go out there for my guys, for the fans, that gets to me, he said.Sale said that while he was away from the team, teammates, former teammates and other players around the league sent him text messages to boost his spirits. The gestures did not go unnoticed.There is a lot of crap that was going on this week, no doubt about it, Sale said. But for them to do what they did today, and the previous four or five days, it says a lot about who they are and how much they care about me.Sale was received warmly in the clubhouse before the game after arriving at Wrigley Field, exchanging hugs with teammates as he made the rounds in the cramped visiting clubhouse at the old ballpark.I have a group of unbelievable guys in there, my teammates, Sale said. I knew who they were before this, but I found out who they really are and what theyre about. I have unbelievable teammates, I really do.Sale said he did not address his teammates as a group before the game but planned to talk with them individually.Get to them on a personal level, Sale said. I want to let them know where my heads at, where my hearts at. And let them know how much I appreciate them.Sales return comes just four days before the trade deadline. His name has come up often, and the uniform controversy added an extra layer of intrigue to the situation. Nevertheless, even with a lot of extra time on his hands, Sale said he paid no attention to the rumor mill.I dont read the newspapers, Sale said. I dont have Twitter. I stay out of all that. That stuff is for other people. Im a pitcher. I get ready to pitch and play baseball.Sale also dismissed suggestions that his relationship with the White Sox front office is irreparable.I think everyone is making a little bit bigger deal of this than it really is, Sale said. Were here to win games. And from this point forward, I think thats our main focus.Im here to win. Im happy exactly where Im at. ' ' '