Clarke sounds Aussie warning
A full-strength Australian squad is gunning to add the Twenty20 World Cup to its bulging trophy cabinet, batsman Michael Clarke has said. Clarke is confident that Ricky Ponting’s team will continue to enjoy success after their World Cup triumph in the Caribbean. “The selectors have shown confidence in all World Cup players and hopefully, we will take that form into the Twenty20,” Clarke said.
India ‘A’ lose to Lankans
Irfan Pathan’s all-round show was not enough as India ‘A’ crashed to a four-wicket defeat against their Sri Lankan counterparts in the on-going triangular cricket tournament in Nairobi on Wednesday, reports PTI from New Delhi.
Pacemen Nuwan Kulasekara (4/10) and Chanaka Welegedara (3/23) bowled well as India were out for 102 in 36.2 overs. Sri Lanka ‘A’ reached 106 for six.
Pathan scored a 79-ball 44 and then claimed two wickets.
Brief scores: India ‘A’: 102 in 36.2 overs (Irfan Pathan 44; Nuwan Kulasekara 4-10, Chanaka Welegedara 3-23) lt to SL ‘A’: 106/6 in 30.2 overs (Gayan Wijekoon 26 n.o., Kaushal Lokuarachchi 37 n.o.; Pathan 2-35, Pankaj Singh 2-35).
DD channels not to be encrypted
The encryption of Doordarshan channels, which was offered as a compromise formula by Nimbus for sharing the live feed of cricket matches, has been given a quiet burial by the government with DD stoutly opposing the proposal, reports PTI from New Delhi.
The technical committee formed to study encryption of DD signal remained deeply divided over the issue, sources said.
Unable to reach a consensus, it submitted an ‘inconclusive’ report to the ministry, broadly outlining the difficulties of implementing encryption on the public broadcaster, the sources added.
“The committee could not reach any decision on encryption issue. The report has been submitted to the ministry,” a senior official in Information and Broadcasting Ministry said. “The issue is no longer being pursued now and DD channels will not be encrypted.”
Everton stun Tottenham
Everton made it two wins out of two in the Premier League on Tuesday with a 3-1 away defeat of Tottenham Hotspur, who have yet to pick up a point this season, reports Reuters from London.
Tottenham were stunned after two minutes when Mikel Arteta’s flighted free-kick from the right was met by a downward header from Everton defender Joleon Lescott. Centre-back Anthony Gardner headed an equaliser after 25 minutes but Everton regained the lead when Leon Osman punished more defensive uncertainty and Alan Stubbs made it 3-1 with a wickedly deflected free-kick in first-half stoppage time.
Chappell to pass on experience
Former India coach Greg Chappell has said he was ready to pass on his experiences to fellow Australian Geoff Lawson, the new Pakistan coach, adding their conversation would remain in-house, reports PTI from Melbourne.
Chappell is in Lawson’s ‘list to call’ as he prepares to take up the job left vacant by Bob Woolmer’s death at the World Cup.
“I haven’t heard from him as yet but I’d be happy to have a chat if he wants to do that,” Chappell said. “But I’m not going to go about that publicly. I’ll talk to him myself. It will be a personal and private conversation,” said the former Australian captain.
PCB panel to hear Akhtar appeal
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed a two-member appellate tribunal to hear the case of maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s appeal in the case related to slaping of Rs 300,000 for leaving the national training camp in Karachi this month, reports UNI from Lahore.
Former Pakistan Test wicket-keeper Imtiaz Ahmed and Moin Afzal, a member of the PCB ad hoc committee, will hear Akh-tar’s appeal after August 17.
Ritwik enters quarterfinals
Top seed Ritwik Bhattacharya, eyeing his seventh PSA title, booked a quarterfinal berth in the fifth ICL Chennai Open Squash championship, reports PTI from Chennai.
Ranked 63rd in the world, Ritwik scripted a fine 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 win against Gaurav Nandrajog.
Ritwik will now play qualifier Mohd Sayed Mahmoud Aly of Egypt, who got the better of India’s Parth Sharma 11-3, 11-8, 3-11, 9-11, 11-7.
