lankan trio admits to breaching offence
DUBAI: The Sri lankan team management, including skipper Dinesh Chandimal, has accepted the ICC's charge of acting against the spirit of the game by refusing to take the field in the second Test against the West Indies after a ball-tampering row. Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha have admitted to their role in team's refusal to take the field during the second Test at St lucia, the ICC said in a statement. The three were charged by the ICC chief executive David Richardson on Tuesday for their involvement in the incident at the start of Saturday's play, which caused a two-hour delay in the start of play. Chandimal had been found guilty by the ICC for attempting to change the condition of the ball after video evidence indicated that he applied saliva to it shortly after putting what the the world body suggested was a sweet into his mouth.
Kyrgios slams 32 aces in Queen's semis
lONDON: Nick Kyrgios blasted 32 aces for the second successive match as the brash Australian powered into the Queen's Club semi-finals with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3) win over Feliciano lopez on Friday. Kyrgios ended lopez's reign as Queen's champion with his latest astonishing display of big-serving at the Wimbledon warm-up event. The 23-year-old had also hit 32 aces in his second round victory against Kyle Edmund, setting a personal-best for a three-set match. Kyrgios needed only two sets to reach that mark against Spanish veteran lopez as he set up a semi-final showdown with top seed Marin Cilic. It is the sixth time in his career that Kyrgios has served over 30 aces, with his highest total coming when he blasted 37 in famous Wimbledon upset of Nadal in 2014.
Thapa enter semis in Mongolian tourney
new delhi: Shiva Thapa (60kg) and Mandeep Jangra (69kg) were among the four Indian boxers to make the semifinals as country's tally of expected medals swelled to eight at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in Mongolia on Friday. Shiva, a world Bronze-winner and multiple-time asian championships medallist, notched up a clinical unanimous win over Kyrgyzstan's Ravshanbek to make the semifinals. He will square off against local hope Battumur Misheelt in the last-four stage. Also advancing was former Commonwealth Games Silver-medallist Mandeep. He defeated Mongolian Batkhuyag Sukhkhuyag in his quarterfinal bout. Joining the established duo after recording victories in the afternoon session were debutant Vanhlimpuia (75kg) and Etash Khan (56kg).
Hafeez recalled for Zimbabwe tour
karachi: Selectors have recalled experienced all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez to the Pakistan squad for a tour of Zimbabwe where the team plays a T20 series also involving Australia and a five-match ODI series with the hosts. The selectors apparently also turned down a request from left arm pacer Muhammad Aamir to be given a break as he was named in both the T20 and ODI squads. Hafeez, who has been cleared to bowl again in international cricket again, makes a comeback to the team after last playing in January in New Zealand. The selectors sidelined opener Ahmed Shehzad from the T20 squad confirming reports that he has tested positive in a dope test for marijuana.