Afridi to lead World XI, morgan out
london: Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi will lead the ICC World XI in an exhibition Twenty20 International against West Indies after Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the May 31 game with a fractured finger. All the proceeds from the fund-raiser at the lord's will be used to redevelop stadia in the Caribbean, damaged due to hurricanes last year. "Shahid Afridi will captain the ICC World XI in the absence of Eoin Morgan," the International Cricket Council tweeted. Morgan suffered the injury while fielding at backward point during a Middlesex game against Somerset at Taunton on Sunday as a ball caught him on the top of the ring finger on his right hand. Morgan's compatriot Sam Billings will take his place in the squad.
Mustafizur ruled out of Afghan T20s
dhaka: Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman on Tuesday withdrew from next month's Twenty20 series against Afghanistan in India because of an injured foot. Mustafizur complained of pain after joining the national training camp last week, at the end of the Indian Premier league (IPl) in which he played for Mumbai Indians. "Subsequent tests have revealed a crack on his left big toe which will sideline him for a few weeks," said a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) statement. "It takes around three to four weeks to recover from such injuries and therefore he can't play against Afghanistan," BCB senior physician Debashis Chowdhury said in the statement. Mustafizur is expected to start rehabilitation in two weeks, the doctor added.
422 players take part in PKl-6 auction
mumbai: A total of 422 players will go under the hammer during a two-day-auction for the sixth season of the Pro Kabaddi league, which begins here on Wednesday. Of the 422 players, 87 players are from the Future Kabaddi Heroes (FKH) programme while there are 58 foreign players from 14 countries including Iran, Bangladesh, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Sri lanka. Out of the 12 franchises, nine have already picked 21 players as Elite Retained Players. The remaining three franchises UP Yodha, U Mumba and Jaipur Pink Panthers will build their team from the scratch. The total salary purse available for each franchise is Rs four crore and a franchise may choose between 18-25 players to form a team.
Anand draws in Norway opener
stavanger: World rapid champion Viswanathan Anand was caught off-guard by levon Aronian of Armenia as he conceded an easy draw in the first round of Altibox Norway chess tournament here. Coming to the first round after a fine performance in the preceding blitz tournament where he tied for second spot, Anand could do little as Aronian came up with an unusual move order in the Anti-Berlin as black and the game ended without any drama. It was on the eighth move that Anand was caught unaware. "I was just telling levon that even though I was aware of this idea I wasn't able to spend a lot of time on it, since there isn't a sub-system in the Anti-Berlin that levon doesn't play. So I spread myself too thin", said Anand in the post-game chat.