Six Indian match officials for WT20
Dubai: Six Indians, including match referee Javagal Srinath on Thursday found a place in the ICC’s 31-strong Playing Control Team for next month’s World T20, which will also feature women match officials for the first time. The umpires’ panel for the tournament includes two female umpires — New Zealand’s Kathleen Cross and Claire Polosak of Australia. Cross will make history in Chennai on March 16 when she officiates in the T20 by umpiring in the women’s match featuring Pakistan and Bangladesh along with Anil Chaudhary. Whereas Polosak will make her debut at a global event when she will perform on-field duties along with Vineet Kulkarni in the New Zealand-Ireland women’s match in Mohali on March 18.
Sri lanka survive UAE scare in Asia Cup
Mirpur: Sri lanka overcame their batting failure with a disciplined bowling performance to beat United Arab Emirates by 14 runs in a round robin league encounter of the Asia Cup T20, here on Thursday. Put into bat by UAE, the defending World T20 champions could manage only 129 for eight in 20 overs with only Dinesh Chandimal (50) making a significant contribution. But skipper lasith Malinga dealt twin blows in the very first over with two block-hole deliveries to peg back UAE, who only managed 115 for 9 in their stipulated overs. The target was a small one but UAE’s inexperience against big teams was the main factor in not being able to chase down a small total.
Vijender to Face Horvath in fourth bout
london: Unbeaten with demolishing victories in the previous three contests, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh will take on a slightly more experienced Hungarian Alexander Horvath in his fourth professional bout on March 12 in liverpool. Vijender is preparing for a homecoming to India in June when he will fight his maiden title bout — the WBO Asia belt. The middleweight has been unbeaten in the circuit, having clinched all his three wins by knockouts. Vijender will have no time to rest as he has another big fight lined up just three weeks later at the Harrow Sports Centre, london, as he builds towards his title opportunity in India.
Djokovic retires from Dubai c’ship
DUBAI: Top-seeded Novak Djokovic retired from his quarterfinal match against Feliciano lopez at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday after losing the first set. Djokovic called for the ATP trainer while trailing 1-2. He kept pointing to his face as he spoke to the trainer, but eventually got up to play. However, he quit the match after the Spaniard closed out the set 6-3. lopez said Djokovic told him that he had an eye infection “since a few days already.” Djokovic’s retirement means this will be the first tournament in more than a year where he hasn’t reached the final. Elsewhere, Veteran Indian tennis player leander Paes and his French partner Jeremy Chardy crashed out of the Mexico Open after losing in straight sets, 2-6, 4-6, in the first round here. The Indo-French combination proved to be no match to Austria’s Oliver Marach and Fabrice Martin.
Tsotsobe investigated in fixing case
Johanessburg: South African fast bowler lonwabo Tsotsobe is reportedly under investigation in a match-fixing case that has already seen one of the country’s former international players banned for 20 years. Tsotsobe told the Wisden India website on Thursday that he had handed over his bank account and cellphone records after being asked for them by national federation Cricket South Africa. Former South Africa limited-overs batsman Gulam Bodi was banned last month after admitting he conspired to recruit players to fix matches, or parts of matches, in South Africa’s domestic T20 league last year. Tsotsobe denied taking money from Bodi to fix. Tsotsobe, a left-arm seam bowler, has played five Tests, 61 One-Day Internationals and 23 T20 games for South Africa.