FICA endorses IPL contract
The Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday received a shot in the arm with the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) endorsing the players’ contract offered by the organisers of the Twenty20 extravaganza, reports PTI from New Delhi.
FICA Chief Executive Tim May had a look at the Long Form Player Agreement for the IPL after which he confirmed that he was ready to recommend to the players that they could enter the agreement. “I can confirm that I am now satisfied in principle with the form of the IPL Player Contract,” May said in a statement.
Bucknor to return in Bangla
Umpire Steve Bucknor will return to cricket for two Test matches between Bangladesh and South Africa this month, reports Reuters from Dhaka.
Jamaican Bucknor was dropped by the International Cricket Council from the Test series in Australia last month following protest from India, who had criticised his performance in their 122-run defeat against the hosts in Sydney.
Bucknor will stand in with Pakistan's Alim Dar in the first and second Tests between Bangladesh and South Africa, starting on Feb 22 and 29 respectively.
Eves’ Asia Cup probables named
The probables for the Asia Cup for women was announced by the national selection committee of the BCCI on Thursday, reports PTI from Mumbai. The committee comprised former cricketers Vrunda Bhagat, Anju Jain, Mithu Mukherjee, Sandhya Agarwal and Purnima Rao.
The probables:
Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Jaya Sharma, Karuna Jain, Rumeli Dhar, Amita Sharma, Devika Palshikar, Trushkamini MD, Priti Dimri, Neetu David, Seema Pujare, Snehal Pradhan, Priyanka Roy, Anagha Deshpande, Asha Rawat, Gouhar Sultana, Pallavi Bharadwaj, Sulakshana Naik, Swaroopa Kadam, Anureet Kaur, Niranjana N and Poonam Raut.
2009 Champions Trophy in Aussies
Australia has been selected to host the men’s and women’s hockey Champions Trophy tournaments in 2009, Hockey Australia announced on Thursday, reports Reuters from Sydney.
The women’s event will be held at Sydney’s Olympic hockey centre in July, while the men’s championship will be staged in Melbourne from November 28 to December 6.
Chambers gets European ban
British sprinter Dwayne Chambers will not be welcome at any of the 51 European events run by organisers of the prestigious Golden League, British newspapers reported on Thursday, reports Reuters from London.
The former drugs cheat was named on Tuesday in Britain's squad for next month's world indoor championships in Valencia but the president of the Euromeetings Group confirmed that he would not be welcome at its events.
Rajne Soderberg said Chambers would fall foul of his organisation's tough anti-doping stance.
"We have agreed not to invite these (convicted) athletes ever again. These people cause the sport so much damage. It cannot be forgiven," Soderberg told newspapers. Chambers, 29, tested positive for the designer steroid THG in 2003 and was banned for two years. He later admitted he had been taking the banned substance for 18 months before he was caught.
Pistorius appeals to CAS
South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his ban from running at this year's Beijing Olympics with artificial limbs, reports Reuters from London.
"I am filing this appeal not just for myself but for all disabled athletes. We deserve a chance to compete at the highest levels if our bodies permit us to do so," Pistorius said in a statement.
Dispute can put pressure: Smith
A dispute over the number of black players in their squad could hamper South Africa's performance in the tour of Bangladesh, captain Graeme Smith said on Thursday.
“It hasn't been great what's happened back at home,” Smith told reporters on his arrival at Dhaka airport. “It probably does put a lot of extra pressure on the individuals here and all the team.”
