Kamran may make it to wc squad
Karachi: Discarded wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal could be a surprise inclusion in Pakistan’s final World Cup squad after he continued his rich vein of batting form in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold league at the National Stadium here. Kamran, out of favour with the selectors in the one-day format since last year after the Champions Trophy in England, was unbeaten on 131 on the fourth day of the five-day final for his team, National Bank against Sui Northern Gas, which is close to completing a hat-trick of Quaid Trophy titles. “Kamran is in serious consideration for the final World Cup squad but not as a wicketkeeper but as a specialist batsman,” a source close to the national selection committee said.
Hughes’ bat to go at MT.Everest
Melbourne: In a unique tribute to Phillip Hughes, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is planning to place a bat belonging to the late Australian cricketer on top of the Mount Everest. CAN has written a letter to Cricket Australia (CA) and they are working on the initiative. In the letter addressed to CA chairman Wally Edwards, CAN outlined how it wanted to honour the fallen Test opener with a 63-over tribute match. “The Nepalese have asked CA if it would be possible to have one of Hughes’ bats, a piece of his clothing and a CA flag to take to the world’s highest point during the next climbing season in March-April,” wrote WAtoday.Com.
Ankita enters final in pune
Pune: India’s top woman singles player Ankita Raina, the fourth seed, entered her third USD 25,000 event final when she ousted Romanian qualifier Cristina Ene in three sets in the semi-finals of NECC-ITF tennis tournament at the Deccan Gymkhana here on Friday. The 21-year-old Raina, who held a WTA ranking of 294 going into the tournament, got past her rival 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to a summit clash with British sixth seed Katy Dunne on Saturday. Sixth seed Dunne easily overcame her Serbian rival Sofia Shapatava 6-1, 6-2 in the other semi final. Raina, who said she is aiming to break into the top 200 or even 150 next year, held 15 break points and converted 9 of those while dropping her own serve on five occasions.
Seeded boys hurry into top eight
Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh): Manav Thakkar led the top eight seeded brigade into the sub-junior boys’ pre-quarterfinals of the 76th Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championships at the Cherukuri Convention Centre here on Friday. Top-seed Manav Thakkar easily beat qualifier Rohit Karam of Manipur for a clear 3-0 victory while No. 2 seed Manush Shah downed another qualifier Nitin Singh from Uttarakhand by the same margin.
Sudha in kolkata Half Marathon
Kolkata: Asian Games gold medallist Sudha Singh along with India internationals Kavita Raut and lalita Babbar will spearhead the Indian women’s challenge at the Inaugural Tata Steel Kolkata 25 km run on Sunday. The men’s category will have India’s half marathon specialist Soji Mathew from Kerala, 10,000m gold medallist in all India Inter-University Championship Kheta Ram, winner of 10,000m at the National Games, Sanvroo Yadav and Nitendra Singh Rawat. Besides the main event of 25k run, which would be flagged off from Red Road at 6.30 am, it would also have three more categories namely, 10 km run from 7 am, senior citizens and differently-abled person’s 4 km run at 8.15 am and 6 km fun run starting 9 am.
Cheema to be as Chef de Mission
Karachi: Senior bureaucrat, Naved Akram Cheema
is in line to be appointed Chef de Mission of the Pakistan cricket squad that will travel to Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup next month. The Pakistan Cricket Board in an interesting move have decided to go ahead with their decision to send Cheema with the team despite the presence of Moin Khan as manager cum chief selector. He said that PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan had held a meeting with Moin here and informed him about the decision to appoint Cheema who enjoyed a successful record as Pakistan team manager in recent years before he stepped down himself to take over as Chief Secretary of Punjab.
Commentary ‘debut’ for clarke
Melbourne: His cricketing future may be under cloud of doubt after his latest hamstring injury but a dapper Michael Clarke was impressive in his ‘debut’ as a media pundit for the ‘Channel 9’ network during the third cricket Test that got underway. According to Sydney Morning Herald,”Based on his Boxing Day debut, Clarke’s future could well be in the commentary box. He was candid and colourful, offering a unique insight into teammates and the opposition. There was the odd piece of cheerleading, but Clarke was more opinionated analyst than promotional tool.” Clarke also tackled more serious matters – waxing lyrical about India’s field placements as they tried to pick apart Chris Rogers’ game.