Harikrishna goes down fighting
Shamkir (Azerbaijan): Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna fought hard before going down against World No 4 Vladimir Kramnik Russia in fourth round of the Shamkir Chess tournament, here. The Russian took 42 moves to finish the game against the World No 14 Indian Grandmaster, who tried all tricks up his sleeves but failed to save the game on Monday. Earlier on Sunday, Harikrishna played an interesting game against local Grandmaster Teimour Radjabov. The Hyderabadi used Ragozin defense but to his dismay his opponent surprised him with counter moves in the third round game. Harikrishna was quick enough to display his meticulous skills and turned the game into a half point in quick 28 moves.
Nasir challenges spot-fixing charges
Karachi: Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed has challenged the spot-fixing charges framed against him by Pakistan Cricket Board. Nasir has also asked the PCB to keep him out of any investigation until the UK's crime investigation agency concludes its inquiry against him. "Basically Nasir has informed the Board through a legal response that he will be contesting the charges laid out against him in the notice sent to him earlier," a source in PCB said. Crime agency has been allowed to extend his bail to June 21 in london. The PCB claims that Nasir, who is in the eye of a storm over the spot-fixing scandal in the Pakistan Super league, has not been available for questioning to PCB officials as he resides in the UK.
Subrata Paul fails dope test
New Delhi: India's top goalkeeper Subrata Paul is staring at a career-threatening four-year ban for failing a dope test but has vowed to prove himself innocent by going for the confirmatory 'B' sample test. The 30-year-old Paul returned positive for terbutaline in the tests conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency on his urine sample taken on March 18 during the national camp in Mumbai. All India Football Federation general secretary Kushal Das said Paul flunked an out-of- competition test last month. Paul said he will go for the 'B' sample test. "I will request for the 'B' sample test as I believe that I have not done anything to fail a dope test. All the players were tested during the Mumbai national camp and I never thought that my sample will return positive," he added.
Wood recalled in eng squad for ct
london: England has called up fit-again Mark Wood for the forthcoming Champions Trophy campaign, but his fellow pace bowler Steven Finn has been left out of the 15-man squad. Wood has returned to fitness after being sidelined for several months following a third ankle operation. Apart from that, there are no real surprises in the squad, which will also take on South Africa in a three-match series before the Champions Trophy.