IPl organisers sell 40,000 tickets
Abu Dhabi: The IPl organisers on Saturday claimed that they have sold close to 40,000 tickets online in three days for the first leg of the Twenty20 league, beginning April 16. “This is a remarkable start. The sale of tickets off the field will be complemented by some exhilarating cricket on the field, in the fifteen days from 16 April 2014 to 30 April 2014,” Ranjib Biswal, Chairman, Governing Council, IPl, said. Chief Executive of the Emirates Cricket Board, David East, was delightred with the good beginning. “Apart from the cricket fans, the interest of cricket is growing among the people in the UAE. This is evident from the number of tickets sold on the very first day. The spectators will come in huge numbers to support and savour the IPl,” East said.
Showcause notice to Shakib
Mirpur: There seems to be no end to the troubles of Shakib Al Hasan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has issued a showcause notice to country’s premier all-rounder for making critical remarks about the national team during an interview with a local vernacular newspaper. Shakib has been given time till the weekend to give a satisfactory reply on why he had spoken about Bangladesh’s poor campaign in the ongoing World Twenty20. Shakib gave an interview to leading Bangla daily “Prathom Aalo”. In the interview, Shakib had apparently said that “it was a mistake on the part of BCB, fans as well as the media to expect that Bangladesh would perform well.”
Delhi top North Zone with five wins
Chandigarh: Delhi breezed into the Super league of the Syed Mustag Ali T20 Trophy (North Zone) beating Services by five wickets at the Sector 16 stadium here on Saturday. The team topped the zone with five victories in as many games. Services, opting to bat, made 144 for six with skipper Yashpal Singh (39) being the top-scorer. Delhi got home with 10 balls to spare, courtesy contributions from Mithun Manhas (31), Milind Kumar (32), Puneet Bisht (27) and Rajat Bhatia (30 not out). Delhi captain and opener Gautam Gambhir opted to give others time in the middle rather than coming out to bat. Virender Sehwag, who was amongst runs in the tournament after a disappointing run in the longer formats, was rested for the game.
Haryana hammer HP to qualify
Mohali: Haryana hammered Himachal Pradesh by seven wickets and advanced to the Super league stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy at the PCA Stadium here on Saturday. Haryana finished second in North Zone and qualified alongside table toppers Delhi. Himachal all-rounder Rishi Dhawan (65 off 44 balls) played a blinder to take his team to 146 for nine from a precarious 39 for five. However, Dhawan’s effort went in vain as Haryana went about their chase smoothly. Guntashveer Singh (48 off 42) and Sachin Rana (39 off 34) starred in the chase.
Jharkhand 2nd team to qualify
Kolkata: Jharkhand became the second team after Bengal to make the main round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament on net run-rate following their mammoth eight- wicket win over Assam in the East Zone league at the Jadavpur University second campus ground in Saltlake on Saturday. Ishan Kishan struck a delightful 35-ball 48 (6x4), while skipper Saurabh Tiwary was back among runs with a 21-ball 36 not out with two fours and two sixes as Jharkhand cruised to the 128-run target with 22 balls to spare.
Bengal beat Odisha, emerge toppers
Kolkata: Bengal recorded a facile nine-run victory over Odisha to emerge as East Zone league toppers and enter the main round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday. In a must-win match to make the main round, Odisha were set a modest 122 run target after Bengal elected to bat but their batters put up a freak display and lost wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to 112 for nine. With an all-win record from four matches, Bengal (16 points) qualified to the main round as toppers along with group runners-up Jharkhand (8).
EB revive title hope after win
Kolkata: East Bengal thrashed Mohammedan Sporting 3-1 to close the gap with leaders Bengaluru FC by four points and keep their I-league title hopes alive by jumping to third place after their round 24 fixture at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday. Ryuji Sueoka gave East Bengal the 10th minute lead before Joaquim Abranches (40th) doubled the margin after a howler from Mohammedan Sporting defence. Mohammedan Sporting had an instant reply with Joshimar D’Silva Martins heading one home after seeing East Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal out of place.