Messi & Ronaldo share spoils in La Liga awards

The Argentine took home two awards from the annual LFP gala, while Diego Simeone was named as the best coach for his side's Copa del Rey victory
Lionel Messi was named ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in La Liga's 2012-13 season at the annual LFP awards, but the Real Madrid forward was voted the most valuable player of the campaign.

The Barcelona attacker won the award for the fifth successive year and also took home the prize for top forward, while team-mate Andres Iniesta was voted as the greatest attacking midfielder in the division for the fourth time in five seasons.

Confusingly, though Ballon d'Or favourite Ronaldo missed out on the best player tag, he was given the MVP trophy at the fifth edition of the awards, which are held by the Primera Division's governing body.

"It is an honour and a privilege to receive this award," the 28-year-old said upon receiving the award. "I have to thank my team-mates and Madrid and all the people behind this award such as my family. I will try to keep fit to win more prizes at a collective and individual level."

Fellow Madrid player Asier Illarramendi won two titles on Monday: best midfielder and the breakthrough player of last season, which came ahead of his switch to the Santiago Bernabeu from Real Sociedad in the summer.

Best defender also went to a Madrid player, as Sergio Ramos took home the accolade for the second campaign in a row.

Diego Simeone trumped Tito Vilanova and Jose Mourinho - neither of which are still in their positions at Barca and the Blancos respectively - to the best coach award for guiding Atletico Madrid to Copa del Rey glory and a third-placed finish.

Rojiblancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, spending his third season on loan at the Vicente Calderon, won the prize for the top player between the sticks, while benched Real Madrid shot-stopper Iker Casillas took home the fair play prize.

Courtesy: Miles Chambers

Source: http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/138/spain/2013/12/03/4450785/messi-ronaldo-share-spoils-in-la-liga-awards

Indian and South African teams Has Good Relationship

MS Dhoni said "The relationship between the Indian and South African teams has been good. Though we've seen a bit of chirping going around, it makes cricket interesting. "

 MS Dhoni and his team arrived in Johannesburg this morning to cloudy skies and cold shoulders. But they don't know too much about the latter. At least, not yet.

Matters seemed routine when Dhoni and his delegation got into the team bus, drove to the hotel in Sandton where they will spend most of their time on this tour, given that Durban is the only other city they will see, and the captain readied himself for his first media engagement. The number of South African reporters outnumbered their Indian counterparts and they had more than just the cricket on their minds.

The second question - the first was an almost mandatory one about how the Indian squad is coping with the absence of Sachin Tendulkar - was whether Dhoni was aware of the anger surrounding the tour. Dhoni smiled his signature smile. If people were upset with him, he seemed to be saying, he would meet that with pleasantries.

"We can arrange a match for the administrators and let them go at it," he suggested. There was laughter all around. "The relationship between the Indian and South African teams has been good. Though we've seen a bit of chirping going around, it makes cricket interesting. The guys have not become too personal, which means we will have a good series."

Courtesy: Firdose Moonda in Johannesburg

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2013-14/content/current/story/695861.html

Fixtures of New Zealand v West Indies Series, 2013-14

Date and Time	Match	Weather
Wed Nov 27 - Fri Nov 29 21:30 GMT (prev day) | 10:30 local New Zealand XI v West Indians Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln   Tue Dec 3 - Sat Dec 7 21:30 GMT (prev day) | 10:30 local 1st Test - New Zealand v West Indies University Oval, Dunedin Wed Dec 11 - Sun Dec 15 21:30 GMT (prev day) | 10:30 local 2nd Test - New Zealand v West Indies Basin Reserve, Wellington Thu Dec 19 - Mon Dec 23 21:30 GMT (prev day) | 10:30 local 3rd Test - New Zealand v West Indies Seddon Park, Hamilton Thu Dec 26 (50 ovs)           01:00 GMT | 14:00 local 1st ODI - New Zealand v West Indies Eden Park, Auckland Sun Dec 29 (50 ovs)           01:00 GMT | 14:00 local 2nd ODI - New Zealand v West Indies McLean Park, Napier Wed Jan 1 (50 ovs) 22:00 GMT (prev day) | 11:00 local 3rd ODI - New Zealand v West Indies Queenstown Events Centre Sat Jan 4 (50 ovs) 22:00 GMT (prev day) | 11:00 local 4th ODI - New Zealand v West Indies Saxton Oval, Nelson Wed Jan 8 (50 ovs)           01:00 GMT | 14:00 local 5th ODI - New Zealand v West Indies Seddon Park, Hamilton Sat Jan 11 (20 ovs)           06:00 GMT | 19:00 local 1st T20I - New Zealand v West Indies Eden Park, Auckland Wed Jan 15 (20 ovs)           06:00 GMT | 19:00 local 2nd T20I - New Zealand v West Indies Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Fixtures of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Series, 2013-14

Date and Time	Match	Weather
Wed Dec 11 (20 ovs)           16:00 GMT | 20:00 local 1st T20I - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Dubai International Cricket Stadium Fri Dec 13 (20 ovs)           16:00 GMT | 20:00 local 2nd T20I - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Dubai International Cricket Stadium Wed Dec 18 (50 ovs)           11:00 GMT | 15:00 local 1st ODI - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sharjah Cricket Stadium Fri Dec 20 (50 ovs)           11:00 GMT | 15:00 local 2nd ODI - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Dubai International Cricket Stadium Sun Dec 22 (50 ovs)           11:00 GMT | 15:00 local 3rd ODI - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sharjah Cricket Stadium Wed Dec 25 (50 ovs)           11:00 GMT | 15:00 local 4th ODI - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Fri Dec 27 (50 ovs)           11:00 GMT | 15:00 local 5th ODI - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Tue Dec 31 - Sat Jan 4 06:00 GMT | 10:00 local 1st Test - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Dubai International Cricket Stadium Wed Jan 8 - Sun Jan 12 06:00 GMT | 10:00 local 2nd Test - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Thu Jan 16 - Mon Jan 20 06:00 GMT | 10:00 local 3rd Test - Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Fixtures of India vs South Africa series, 2013/14

	Date and Time	Match	Weather
Thu Dec 5 (50 ovs)           11:30 GMT | 13:30 local 17:00 IST 1st ODI - South Africa v India New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 13 - 22° C Sun Dec 8 (50 ovs) 08:00 GMT | 10:00 local 13:30 IST 2nd ODI - South Africa v India Kingsmead, Durban Wed Dec 11 (50 ovs)           11:30 GMT | 13:30 local 17:00 IST 3rd ODI - South Africa v India SuperSport Park, Centurion Sat Dec 14 - Sun Dec 15 08:00 GMT | 10:00 local 13:30 IST South African Invitation XI v Indians Willowmoore Park, Benoni Wed Dec 18 - Sun Dec 22 08:30 GMT | 10:30 local 14:00 IST 1st Test - South Africa v India New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Thu Dec 26 - Mon Dec 30 08:30 GMT | 10:30 local 14:00 IST 2nd Test - South Africa v India Kingsmead, Durban