‘Sangwan never bothered’
New Delhi: Former India seamer and Delhi coach Manoj Prabhakar is livid that Pradeep Sangwan “never bothered” to listen to his advice against spending hours at the gymnasium to build upper-body muscles. “Nobody was there to advice him about right and wrong. I used to tell him repeatedly that don’t work out so much on your upper body muscles as it will affect your bowling. You will become an ordinary bowler. But he did not find it fit to listen to my advice,” Prabhakar said when asked to comment about the dope-tainted cricketer. One of the pioneers swing bowling during his heydays, Prabhakar has been vocal about young bowlers trying to get “six-pack abs”. “Building body has become fashionable these days. Cricketers are more bothered about their looks and IPl is to be blamed for this. Once I asked Sangwan ,’What are you preparing for days’ cricket or night partiesIJ’” Prabhakar, who was the bowling coach and later chief coach of Delhi said.
Bhui replaces overaged Viradia
Mumbai: Andhra batsman Ricky Bhui has been named as the replacement for Gujarat’s Karan Viradia in the Indian under-19 squad for the upcoming tour of Sri lanka. “Viradia has become ineligible as per the age he has mentioned on his passport which differs with the age provided to us. He is overage,” said a Cricket Board source on the need for the replacement.
Kamran can open for comeback
Karachi: In his quest to make another comeback to the national team, Pakistan’s out-of-favour wicketkeeper-batsman, Kamran Akmal is ready to compromise on his batting positing, saying he can even play as an opening batsman. Kamran, 31, who has played 53 Tests, 154 one-day internationals and 50 T20 matches for his country was dropped after the recent Champions Trophy along with two other senior players, Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat. “Umar is by nature a specialist attacking batsman. Whoever has decided and given him the responsibility of keeping as well should be held responsible for whatever happens,” Kamran said.