CricketBriefly

Faulkner fined

london: World Cup winner James Faulkner said he was “deeply embarrassed and sorry” after being fined $15,650 on Wednesday and banned from driving for two years. The 25-year-old all-rounder, who was named man of the match in this year’s World Cup final, was nearly three times over the limit when his car was involved in a minor collision with the back of another vehicle in Manchester, northwest England. Faulkner, who plays with English county lancashire in the city, had been at a restaurant and did not want to walk a mile home in heavy rain, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard. Sentencing him, District Judge Mark Hadfield said: “I am sure you accept it was foolhardy in the extreme to get behind the wheel of your vehicle having been out for a meal with your friend.” He will have to undergo an alcohol management counselling programme.

‘will do anything for sree’

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday said that the state government would “take steps” to revoke BCCI’s ban on Sreesanth after a Delhi court absolved him of all charges related to spot fixing scam. Talking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting here, Chandy said Sreesanth should be reappointed as the brand ambassador of state lottery ‘Karunya’ if he wanted it. Finance Department has to take a decision on the matter. “I personally think that if Sreesanth wants to come back as brand ambassador of the state lottery, he should be reappointed,” Chandy said. Sreesanth was removed as the brand ambassador after the scam broke out in 2013. “Sreesanth is a proud of Kerala. Allegations against him pained not only his family members but all the sports loving people of the state,” Chandy said. The Govt. would also take steps to revoke BCCI ban, he added.

Tambe played with ashraful

washington: Mumbai leg spinner Pravin Tambe, who played for the now suspended Rajasthan Royals franchise in the Indian Premier league (IPl), has featured in a private T20 tournament in the United States alongside banned Bangladesh cricketer Mohammad Ashraful. Ashraful is serving a five-year ban imposed on him by the Bangladesh Cricket Board in 2013 for his role in fixing Bangladesh Premier league matches. The Mumbai Cricket Association, who governs the side for whom Tambe plays domestic cricket, said they were not aware of the incident and that the tweaker had not asked for their permission either, reports espncricinfo.com on Wednesday. Tambe, however, said he did not know of Ashraful’s involvement until he took the field for the game. “I had no idea it was an official tournament,” he was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.com. “I was told it was a practice match. When I went to the ground I realised it was T20 match,” he said.