Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Wednesday, Feb 18
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Wednesday: - - - GOLF Clarke appointed Europe's Ryder Cup captain LONDON - Darren Clarke will captain holders Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup match against the United States at Hazeltine, Minnesota, tour officials announced on Wednesday. (GOLF-RYDER/CAPTAIN, moved, by Tony Jimenez, 400 words) - - Watson heads strong field at Riviera Country Club PACIFIC PALISADES, California - Masters champion Bubba Watson, who won last year's title at Riviera Country Club, fellow American Jim Furyk and Spaniard Sergio Garcia head a strong field for this week's Northern Trust Open where five players ranked in the world's top 20 will be competing. (GOLF-PGA/ (PREVIEW, PIX), expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 400 words) - - Snedeker and Watson speak to media at Riviera PACIFIC PALISADES, California - Defending champion Bubba Watson and fellow American Brandt Snedeker, who clinched his seventh career victory on the PGA Tour at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Sunday, hold news conferences in the build-up to Thursday's opening round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. (GOLF-PGA/ (PIX), expect first story by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 400 words) - - CRICKET World Cup (to March 29) Pool A Afghan World Cup debut ends in loss to Bangladesh A three-wicket blitz at the start of their innings knocked the wind out of Afghanistan on their World Cup debut and helped Bangladesh to a 105-run victory with more than seven overs to spare in their Pool A opener in Canberra on Wednesday. (CRICKET-WORLD/BAN-AFG, 400 words) - - Cricket-'Shining light' Taylor proves size isn't everything SYDNEY - If there was one thing almost the whole cricketing community agreed upon on the first weekend of the World Cup, it was that James Taylor deserved better than to be robbed of a century by a dodgy umpiring decision. (CRICKET-WORLD/ENGLAND-TAYLOR (FEATURE), moved, by Nick Mulvenney, 500 words) - - - - SOCCER Champions League last 16, first leg (1945 unless stated) FC Basel v FC Porto Schalke 04 v Real Madrid Basel looking for another upset BASEL - FC Basel, the outsiders in the last 16, eliminated Liverpool in the group stage and have promised to take risks in their bid for another upset when they host FC Porto. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/BASEL, expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, by Brian Homewood, 400 words) - - Real expect return to top form against Schalke Holders Real Madrid do not expect another goal bonanza at Schalke 04 in their Champions League last 16 first leg after a big win last season, with midfielder Toni Kroos warning not to underestimate the Germans. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/SCHALKE, expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, by Karolos Grohmann, 400 words) - - Libertadores Cup Eight red cards, fireworks mar Libertadores Cup return BUENOS AIRES - The Libertadores Cup followed a familiar script on the opening night of the group phase on Tuesday with eight players sent off and Universidad de Chile fans putting their team at risk of sanctions for using fireworks. (SOCCER-LIBERTADORES/, moved, by Rex Gowar, 400 words) - - - - NHL Canadiens look to pad Eastern Conference lead The Montreal Canadiens try to pad their lead atop the Eastern Conference when they visit the Ottawa Senators in search of a third consecutive win in one of the six games on the National Hockey League schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 700 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0101 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - CYCLING World Track Championships, France (to 22) Copy on merit - - Vuelta a Andalucia (to 22) Alberto Contador and Chris Froome are in action on the opening day of the Vuelta a Andalucia in southern Spain. Copy on merit. - - - - TENNIS ATP: Marseille Open, France (to 22) Delray Beach International, U.S. (to 22) Rio Open, Rio De Janeiro (to 22) WTA: Dubai Championships, Dubai (to 21) Copy on merit on above tournaments - - - - (Europe desk editor: Ken Ferris)
