DelhiDaredevils unveil new jersey
New Delhi: The Delhi Daredevils on Saturday unveiled their brand new jersey for the seventh edition of the Indian Premier league with a tie-up with the country's largest online and mobile classifieds portal classified, Quikr, here. The new jersey was unveiled in the presence of captain Kevin Pietersen, vice-captain Dinesh Karthik and coach Gary Kirsten. Pranay Chulet, the CEO and founder of Quikr, said this will be a long-standing association with the GMR group, the owners of Delhi Daredevils. "Although I cannot talk about the details of the contract but we are hopeful that it will be a long-term association with Delhi Daredevils which will prove to be mutually beneficial to both the parties," Chulet said.
Dipika enters Texas Open semis
Houston: Dipika Pallikal earned a hard fought win over Nicolette Fernandes of Guyana to reach the the semifinals of the USD 50,000 Texas Squash Open here. Pallikal, with coach and five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald in her corner, had to resist a determined fightback by the unseeded Fernandes before prevailing 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 10-12, 11-5 in the quarterfinal played on Friday. The World No.12 from Chennai plays eigth-ranked Madeline Perry of Ireland in the semifinals later on Saturday. In other matches, Malaysian favourite and top seed low Wee Wern was stunned by Egypt's teenage 'giant-killer', Nour El Sherbini. The 18-year-old qualifier tamed the World No.7 11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 to progress in the Women's Squash Association (WSA) Gold 50 event at The Downtown Club here.
Advani advances in C’ship qualifiers
london: He was left hassled after his baggage was misplaced but unfazed by it, ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani rallied to beat China's li Hang in the second round of the qualifying event for the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield. Advani notched up a 10-9 triumph to set up a clash against England's Robbie Williams in the penultimate qualifying round tomorrow. The main event is scheduled from April 19 to May 5. Advani was trailing throughout the match against Hang, who scored heavily in many frames. However, it was the eight-time world champion from India, who used his experience and showed nerves of steel to get past the finish line first. The match played over two days saw the first session ending with the Chinese leading 5-3. On resumption the following day, Hang maintained the lead and at one stage the score was 8-5. With only two frames away from defeat, Advani responded to the pressure and won the next three on the trot.
Aamir's World Cup dreams over
Karachi: The banned Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamir will not be eligible to play in next year's World Cup even if he returns early to domestic cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said. Chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmed told PTI that the PCB was not hopeful about the ICC clearing the pacer to play international cricket until he completed his five-year ban, which would end around August 2015. "What we have tried to convince the ICC to do is to allow him to be back into domestic cricket by reviewing his ban period so that he is ready when the times comes for him to play international cricket," Ahmad said. The PCB Chairman Najam Sethi announced at a press conference that he was confident the youngster could be playing first class cricket later this year once the ICC enforced its amended anti-corruption laws in June. "Once the amended laws come into force on the recommendations of the special committee formed by the ICC to review existing laws then Aamir could have one year of his ban period reduced so that he can get back into domestic cricket this year," he added.
Barodavs UP in Mushtaq Ali T20 final
Mumbai: Uttar Pradesh and Baroda qualified for the Syed Mushtaq Ali All India T20 final by topping their respective groups on the basis of better net run rate after finishing equal on points with Goa and Kerala. UP defeated Haryana by six wickets by riding on Prashant Gupta's maiden T20 century (102 in 58 balls) to finish their Group A league engagements with 12 points from three wins in the five-team pool at Rajkot. They had to wait for the conclusion of the last Group A pool game between Goa and Gujarat, that the former won by four wickets by blitzing their way to the winning total of 181 in only 15 overs for the loss of six wickets, to book their berth in the final with a better net run rate (+0.906) than Goa (+0.879) to top the pool. A similar situation arose here when Baroda lost to Kerala by 22 runs, finished level on points (12) but pipped the winners in the race to the summit clash on better net run rate in Group B. Baroda finished with NRR of +0.774 whereas Kerala ended up with NRR of +0.661. The final between Baroda and UP would be played at the Wankhede Stadium here on April 14 after the rest day on Sunday.
Karthikeyan qualifies second
Suzuka (Japan): Narain Karthikeyan began his 2014 Super Formula campaign by qualifying second for the season opener on Sunday. The completely revamped Super Formula series (erstwhile known as Formula Nippon) has switched to a new Dallara SF14 chassis this year; powered by two-litre, 550 bhp turbocharged engines - similar to the new Formula 1 regulations. Driving for Team Impul Hoshino Racing, the 37-year-old qualified just a tenth behind 24-hour le Mans winner and World Endurance champion Andre lotterer of Team Tom's Toyota.
Wasim Akram joins KKR in UAE
Dubai: In a bid to give the Shah Rukh Khan-owned unit an edge in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier league, former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram has rejoined Kolkata Knight Riders in their preparations here. "About to leave for my first practise session with KKR boys are looking in great shape and mind set," he tweeted.
AFI to host school & college C’ships
Meerut: Athletics Federation of India on Saturday decided to introduce national championships at the school and college levels from next season to tap talent from among younger age group athletes. The decision was taken on the first day of the two-day Annual General Meeting of the AFI here. The federation, after detailed deliberations, decided to start National School Athletics Championships and National Inter-Collegiate Athletics Championships from next year. "In the first day of Annual General Meeting here, it was decided to add two more national level championships to the Indian athletics calendar from next year onwards for school and collegiate athletes," the AFI said. "It will be on the lines of popular NCAA championships of the United States," said AFI President Adille J Sumariwalla. Following the decision to start the two new championships, it was decided to scrap the 25-year-old National Inter-Zonal championships from next year onwards. PNS/Agencies