India gets bye in 1st round
Santiago (Chile): Being the top seeds, the Indian Davis Cup team on Thursday received a bye for the first round of the Asia/Oeceania Group I 2016 competition. In the second round, to be held from July 15-17, India will host either New Zealand or Korea as they had beaten both the sides in away ties this year. India lost the World Group Play-off tie against top seeds Czech Republic 1-3 in the home tie last week to remain in the Asia/Oeceania Group I zone. The winner of the second round will advance to the play-off stage, where teams strive to make it to the elite 16-nation World Group. India had a great chance to qualify last week when world number one team Czech Republic visited without world number five Tomas Berdych but defeat in the doubles rubber hurt the team’s chances badly.
Cummins ruled out of Bangla tour
Sydney: Fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of Bangladesh due to a stress fracture in his back, the second of his young career, Cricket Australia said on Thursday. All-rounder James Faulkner will replace Cummins, who suffered lower back pain during the last one-day match against England earlier this month. A scan on Wednesday showed up a new early stage lumbar bone stress fracture on the 22-year-old. He has been plagued by injury, including a back stress fracture that ruled him out of the entire 2012-13 southern summer. Physiotherapist David Beakley said Cummins will go into a lengthy rehabilitation programme. Bangladesh host Australia for the first Test from October 9-13 in Chittagong and the second from October 17-21 in Dhaka.
Jayaram back in top-25
New Delhi: Riding on his stupendous performance in the Korea Open Super series, Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram has climbed up seven places to be ranked World No. 25 in the latest rankings issued by the Badminton World Federation on Thursday. Jayaram’s runner-up finish at the $600,000 Korea Open has helped him re-enter the top-25. Meanwhile, K Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap have managed to retain their fifth and eighth positions, respectively in the men’s singles rankings. H S Prannoy, however, has dropped a spot to be at 16th the position. In women’s singles, star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is still heading the chart, while PV Sindhu is static at 13. Women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa have also managed to retain their No.11 spot, while men’s doubles duo of Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy are stagnant at No.19.
Perez to remain with Force India
Suzuka: Sahara Force India have retained their drivers for third season in a row by announcing that Sergio Perez will stay with the Silverstone squad in 2016. The Vijay Mallya-led team had already retained Nico Hulkenberg for the next two seasons. Perez, who joined Force India in 2014 after stints at Sauber and Mclaren, is upbeat about his progress with the team. Perez is ninth in the standings with 39 points and Hulkenberg 12th on 30 points. Force India are fifth in constructors’ standings with 69 points, 19 ahead of sixth placed lotus.
India to play Pakistan in opener
New Delhi: Two-time defending champions India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on the inaugural day of the fifth Sultan of Johor Cup junior hockey tournament to be held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from October 11 to 18. Beside India, who are the title holders for the last two editions of the Sultan of Johor, the six-team tournament will also feature Pakistan, Great Britain, Argentina, Australia and hosts Malaysia. After the high-voltage clash against Pakistan, India will face Great Britain on October 12, Argentina (October 14), Malaysia (October 15) and Australia (October 17).
Ishant confirms Ranji availability
New Delhi: After facing huge embarrassment for not being able to reach Ishant Sharma, a red-faced Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) on Thursday included the Indian pace spearhead. “Ishant Sharma has confirmed his availability from the second Ranji Trophy match but we are including him in the team right now,” DDCA Sports Secrtetary Sunil Dev on Thursday released a one-sentence statement. Ishant thus will be available for Delhi second game against Vidarbha from October 8-11. The fiasco started on Wednesday when DDCA’s senior selection committee chairman Vinay lamba said that the lanky pacer was “unreachable” and that was reason they did not select him.
Karnataka beat Bangladesh A
Mysuru: left-arm orthodox bowler Jagadeesha Suchith returned with an impressive six-wicket haul to set the platform for Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka’s four-wicket win over Bangladesh A in the final day of three-day match here on Thursday. Suchith (6/60) ran through Bangladesh A’s middle and lower order to help Karnataka bowl out the visitors for 309 in their second innings, thereby setting up a target of 181 runs to win before the hosts, which they overwhelmed in 40.5 overs by losing six wickets. Skipper CM Gautam scored a quickfire 49 off 35 balls, while Shreyas Gopal remained unbeaten on 40. Other notable run getters for Karnataka were Abhishek Reddy (36), Shishir Bhavane (24) and Mayank Agarwal (23).