Shinwari likely to miss 2nd Test
Karachi: Pakistan's left arm pacer Usman Shinwari is unlikely to play in the second Test against Sri Lanka after being hospitalised with high fever, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said on Tuesday. He said that Usman is being treated and it is highly unlikely he would be available for the second Test starting from Thursday at the national stadium in Karachi. Sri Lanka have also lost pacer Kasun Rajitha for the second Test, according to head coach Mickey Arthur. “No he can't play here and he is being looked after for his left hamstring problem,” he said.
Siddle recalled to Boxing Day Test
Sydney: Australia's cricket selectors gave veteran paceman Peter Siddle a career lifeline on Tuesday, calling him up to the 13-man squad for the second Test against New Zealand in Melbourne beginning on Boxing Day. James Pattinson is favourite to replace Hazlewood but chief selector Trevor Hohns said Siddle had plenty to offer at his home Melbourne Cricket Ground. “Peter has been brought in as a 13th player for Melbourne,” Hohns said. “He is a proven Test match performer with an exceptional knowledge of the MCG which will be a valuable part of our preparation.”
Lakshya reaches career-best 32
NEw Delhi: Rising Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen has climbed up nine places to a career-best 32nd spot among men's singles players in the BWF rankings issued on Tuesday. Lakshya achieved the feat by winning the title at the Bangladesh Int’al Challenge. There was no further movement in the men's singles chart with B Sai Praneeth and Kidambi Srikanth remaining static at 11th and 12th spots respectively. Among the women singles players, Olympic medallists P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal are static at the sixth and 11th positions, respectively.
Jamieson comes in for fergueson
Wellington: Uncapped paceman Kyle Jamieson was drafted into the New Zealand Test squad on Tuesday after injury sidelined Lockie Ferguson for the rest of the Test series against Australia. The Black Caps had high hopes that Ferguson's lightning pace would make an impression on his Test debut in Perth, but he pulled up with a calf strain on the opening day as his side slumped to a 296-run loss. Coach Gary Stead said it was a bitter blow for Ferguson, who will be out for four to six weeks.
India men to face NZ in oly opener
Tokyo: The Indian men's and women's hockey teams will open their campaigns against New Zealand and the Netherlands respectively at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on July 25. According to the match schedule, both the Indian teams will open their campaigns on the first day of hockey competitions. After New Zealand, eight-time champions in the men's competition, India will face world number one Australia on July 26, before taking on Spain (July 28), defending champions Argentina (July 30) and hosts Japan (July 31) in Group A. The women's team, who are also clubbed in Group A, will lock horns with Germany on July 27, before meeting Great Britain (July 29), Ireland (July 31) and South Africa (August 1). The men's and women's gold medal matches will take place on August 6 and 7 respectively.