Smith named as Rajasthan Royals skipper
mumbai: Australian captain Steven Smith on Saturday was predictably handed over the captaincy of Rajasthan Royals for upcoming edition of Indian Premier league. Inaugural season champions Rajasthan Royals who suffered a two year ban are coming back to the IPl this year. Inarguably one of the best batsman in world cricket at present, Australian skipper Smith was part of the Rajasthan Royals in 2014 and 2015 and was retained by the franchise as the only marquee player before auctions for 12crs. Smith had led the the Rising Pune Supergiant last year to the final of the IPl where they eventually lost to champions Mumbai Indians. In what was a successful season for him, Smith had amassed 472 runs in 15 matches in the last IPl season.
ICC to present Test Championship mace to Kohli
DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will present the ICC Test Championship Mace to India captain Virat Kohli at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town after the end of the third and final T20 International against South Africa on Saturday. On behalf of the ICC, ICC Cricket Hall of Famers Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Pollock of South Africa will make the presentation immediately after the awards ceremony for the T20I series. India have ensured the number one spot on the ICC Test Team Rankings and a prize of USD 1 million after their victory in the third and final Test at Johannesburg against South Africa last month. The win had ensured that no team can move ahead of India in the Test rankings at the 3 April cut-off date.
Sameer in Swiss Open final, kashyap in oz final
BASEl: India's men shuttlers had a great day in office with reigning Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap reaching the Austrian International Challenge final in Vienna while young Sameer Verma made it to the summit clash at the Swiss Open. In Vienna, 31-year-old Kashyap beat fifth seeded Estonian Raul Must 21-18, 21-4 in only 37 minutes to reach the title round. While the Estonian Raul fought hard in the first game, he was no match for the former world No 6 in the second game where he won 10 consecutive points. There was no looking back from there on. It is expected that Kashyap, whose rankings have plummeted currently to No 52 due to injuries, will get important points and improve his position in the list. In Basel, world No 41 Verma beat 19-year-old Thai Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-14, 11-21, 21-12 in three hard-fought games.
Vikas, Amit enter final at Strandja Boxing
Sofia (Bulgaria): Former Asian Games gold-medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg) and the fast-rising Amit Panghal (49kg) advanced to the finals with tactically contrasting wins in the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament for men and women here on Saturday. Amit, a gold-medallist at last month's India Open, defeated Russia's Soian Artysh to make the summit clash where he will be up against Morocco's Said Mordaji. Vikas, on the other hand, defeated China's Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatiha in his semifinal contest. The former World Championships bronze-medallist produced another calculated performance, continuing a fine comeback from a hand injury. However, last edition's silver-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin ended with a bronze this time after going down to Russian Shakhrier Ahmedov in a fiercely-contested semifinal bout.
Nita Ambani presents medals at Winter Olympics
pyeongchang: International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nita Ambani today presented medals to the top two finishers of the Alpine Skiing team event at the Winter Olympics here. Ambani gave away the gold and silver medals to Switzerland and Austrian teams. Switzerland won the inaugural Alpine Skiing team event by defeating Austria 3-1 at Jeongseon Alpine Centre. Ambani is India's first woman IOC member. She is also a member of two important global commissions of the IOC, including the Olympic Channel.