Pujara in neymar, vettel co.
Mumbai: A US-based sports website has placed India’s prolific batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in its latest list of potentially good top ten investment options in sports, putting the Saurashtra player alongside the likes of Brazilian soccer star Neymar and Formula One ace Sebastian Vettel. Under the heading “The top 10 sports pro stock options,” website sportsonearth.Com has stated that with Indian cricket in a state of transition with the soon-to-be retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, the 25-year-old Pujara provides a good option for potential investors linking themselves to him. “Indian cricket is in a state of transition, with the Michael Jordan of the sport, Sachin Tendulkar, retiring from competition, and the stalwart captain (and extremely well compensated) Mahendra Singh Dhoni about to turn 33,” writes Weinstraub.
‘Monkeygate’ gone: Ponting
Melbourne: After questioning Sachin Tendulkar’s conduct during the ‘Monkeygate’ scandal in his autobiography, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting now says he has made peace with the key Indian characters of the ugly drama during his IPl stint. “I had to captain Harbhajan and Sachin, and (the then Indian captain Anil (Kumble) was the mentor/coach. They wouldn’t have had me there if that (Monkeygate) hadn’t passed over,” Ponting told ESPNcricinfo. “And Anil hasn’t said anything about being angry or anything like that, it’s just about moving on and ‘wait until my book’.
Rain forces early stumps
Dhaka: Shakib Al Hasan claimed three wickets as Bangladesh reduced New Zealand to 107-3 on Tuesday before rain forced an early close on the second day of the second Test in Dhaka. A downpour led the umpires to suspend and then call off play after an early tea break with the game evenly poised. New Zealand had dismissed the hosts for 282 early in the morning thanks to Neil Wagner’s maiden five-wicket haul, but Bangladesh struck back through Shakib. He took two wickets in his first two overs, with New Zealand in trouble at 32-2 at lunch before Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor rebuilt. Williamson had to leave the field after Rubel Hossain struck him with a bouncer, but he returned soon afterwards as Shakib removed incoming batsman Brendon McCullum. Rubel took a stunning catch at deep square leg as the New Zealand captain fell for 11. PNS/Agencies