CricketBriefly

Ramachandra Raju no more

Vizianagaram: Former Honorary General Secretary G V Ramachandra Raju of the Vizianagaram District Cricket Association passed away this evening at his residence here, after a prolonged illness, Association said. He was 94. Members of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) expressed their shock and condoled his death. ACA secretary G Gangaraju said, “G V Ramachandra Raju is one of the senior most members of the Andhra Cricket Association. He was a role model to many ACA administrators. With his demise, the ACA has lost a great guide.” ACA president D V Somayajulu said, “With the sad demise of Ramachandra Raju, ACA has lost one of it’s founder members and it is a great loss to the Association.”

Jayasuriya not to contest

colombo:  Sri lanka’s former cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya on Monday said he will not contest the August 17 parliamentary election. “I will not contest this election,” Jayasuriya said. The 46-year-old cricketer-turned politician won the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentary election list for Matara district in 2010. He served as the deputy minister of Postal services in the former UPFA government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was recently appointed a deputy minister by president Maithripala Sirisena in the new government of national unity formed after January 8, when Sirisena beat Rajapaksa.

Hafeez’s action tested for 2 hours

chennai: Experienced Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has completed testing on his bowling action at the ICC-accredited Biomechanics laboratory here today and the report will be sent to the ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board sometime during next week. Hafeez was made to wait at the airport on arrival this morning at the Immigration for close to two hours before being cleared. The 34-year old all-rounder had earlier on Jan 2 this year underwent “testing for a suspect bowling action” before being selected to represent Pakistan in the World Cup and he was hauled for the same offence during a match against Sri lanka recently and was asked to undergo a re-test now.

India retain 4th spot in Tests

dubai: India have retained the fourth position in the ICC Test team rankings but England, currently placed just a spot behind the Asian cricketing giant, have a chance to move up the ladder during the upcoming Ashes series against Australia. When the series starts in Cardiff on Wednesday, both England and Australia would bid to hold possession of the prestigious Urn and also climb up the rankings table. England are on fifth position on 97 points, trailing India, and ahead of Pakistan by a fraction of a point, while Australia are in second spot on 111 points.In the Test batsmen’s chart, Australia vice-captain Steven Smith would look to defend his number-one spot as he holds a five-point advantage over AB de Villiers. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is the lone Indian batsman in the top-10 list, sitting on 10th. 

PCB, Akhtar meet to settle dispute

karachi: Top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday met Shoaib Akhtar in a bid to resolve the issue of the PCB having deducted seven million rupees from the former fast bowler's earnings as part of a fine imposed on him years ago. A spokesman for the board confirmed that Akhtar had met with the chairman of the executive committee, Najam Sethi and some other top officials were present in the meeting at the Gaddafi Stadium. “At this moment I don't know nor can give out details of the meeting,” said the spokesman.