Gul ruled out of first Test
Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been ruled out of the first Test against India because of a back problem, a team official said.  "Gul complained of stiffness and pain in his lower back and we got it scanned," Pakistan media manager Ehsan Malik said on Wednesday.

Wadekar latest     to join ICL
Former India skipper Ajit Wadekar has joined the rebel India Cricket League and will be a match referee along with his former teammate and off spin legend Erapalli Prasanna, reports PTI from Mumbai. ICL also announced the list of umpires who would do duty in the Twenty20 meet. All the umpires are from England.

Indian archers set world record
A trio of teenaged Indians -- Adonda Raju, Rajib Basumatary and Ravindhar Hembram -- set a new world record at the 3rd Cadet World archery championship in Mexico, reports UNI from New Delhi.

The three Indian archers tabled a combined score of 440 -- a feat never achieved before -- in the team’s semifinal and final (2x24 arrows) rounds. The world archery governing body, FITA, has ratified the world record.

Rana shoots 69, stays ahead
Vikram Rana shot a one-under 69 to maintain a five-stroke advantage atop the leaderboard after the midway stage of the LG Western India amateur golf championship at the par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Rana's tournament tally stands at four-under 136. Manav Das brought in a card level-par 70 to occupy the second place at 141, while Abhinav Lohan shot a 73 to share the third place with Lt Col SK Lakra at 144. Lakra shot a 75.