HPCA gets back Dharamsala stadium
Shimla: In a major jolt to the state government, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday indicted the government for forcible eviction of BJP MP Anurag Thakur-led state cricket body from the picturesque international cricket stadium in Dharamsala and ordered restoration of possession to it. The stadium and its residential complex were taken over by the government along with other Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) properties in a midnight swoop on October 26 over alleged irregularities in the association. A division bench of Chief Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Kuldip Singh ordered status quo ante with respect to the cabinet decision taking over the properties.
South Africa to host Pakistan
Karachi: left in the lurch after India shortened its tour, South Africa will now host Pakistan for a three-match ODI and two-match Twenty20 series from November 18, the two countries’ boards announced on Tuesday. Pakistan and South Africa are currently playing an ODI series in the UAE, which will be followed by two T20 encounters till November 15. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hit a USD 1.5 million bonanza with this short limited-overs series, to be held in South Africa.
Razzaq, Malik recalled for T20s vs SA
Karachi: Experienced Pakistan allrounders Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik were on Tuesday recalled for the two T20 internationals against South Africa in Dubai. Razzaq, 33, returned to the side after he last played against Australia in the 2012 World T20 Cup in Sri lanka and developed a rift with captain Mohammad Hafeez. Pakistan will play two T20 matches on November 13 and 15. Squad: Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman.
‘We want 100 from Sachin in both Tests’
New Delhi: As Sachin Tendulkar’s illustrious career draws to an end, Olympian wrestlers Yogeshwar Dutt and Amit Kumar Dahiya want the retiring Indian batsman to enthral the cricket-crazy nation by scoring centuries in his final two Tests. “He has given this country and its people so much that is beyond imagination. His achievements in cricket speak for him. It’s a big loss to the world cricket. We’ll miss his presence on the cricket field,” Yogeshwar said. “It’d be a sad day for all of us when he’ll walk on the field for one last time during the Wankhede Test. I’d like to see him score centuries in both the Tests. He should make the series memorable for every cricket-loving Indian,” london Olympic bronze medallist said.
it’s all about results: Cook to warne
Hobart: England skipper Alastair Cook has played a straight bat to Australian great Shane Warne’s renewed criticism of his captaincy style, saying only results will matter in the Ashes series starting later this month. England has won three consecutive Ashes series, including a 3-0 victory at home completed in August, and arrived in Australia confident of winning four straight for the first time since the 19th century. Cook put retired Test legspinner Warne’s comments this week about his “boring” and “negative” captaincy down to “what happens when England play in Australia.” “I’ve always said I’m trying to learn on the job from experience and there will be times where I could be slightly more imaginative and think slightly differently if the situation arises,” Cook said. “We’ve had a pretty good run so far as a Test side. In my first year as a Test captain we’ve won away in India, which wasn’t done for a long time, won a series against Australia. “I keep saying it, it’s all about results ... we’ve done quite a lot of winning and that’s what it’s about.” Agencies