Pak include sarfaraz in t20 world cup
Karachi: Pakistan on Friday made three changes to their squad for the T20 World Cup, bringing in former captain Sarafraz Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman and Haider Ali at the expense of Azam Khan, Mohammad Hasnain and Khushdil Shah. Former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has been named interim head coach following the resignation of Misbah-ul-Haq. As announced earlier, former Australia batter Matthew Hayden and former South Africa pacer Vernon Philander will be the team’s batting and bowling consultants for the mega event. The cut-off for making squad changes is October 10.Many former Pakistan cricketers, including Rashid Latif and Shoaib Akhtar, wanted wholesale changes in the squad announced on September 4.
Amandeep drall tied fifth after first day
Tourrettes (France): Indian golfer Amandeep Drall enjoyed another fine start as she carded 1-under 71 and was tied 5th at the end of the first day at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open on the Ladies European Access Series Tour. Another Indian in the field, Vani Kapoor (77), was tied 52nd. Amandeep, a multiple winner on the domestic Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, had four birdies against three bogeys. Her four birdies came in a stretch between sixth and 11th. Sweden’s Linn Grant who was ranked fourth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before turning professional in August, held a two-shot lead at the end of day one after she fired an opening round of 68.
ISL reallocates prize money
New Delhi: Indian Super League organisers on Friday announced an increase in the prize money of ‘Shield Winners’ by Rs 3 crore starting from the upcoming season, while reducing the amount handed to the ISL champions.The League Winners Shield, introduced in 2019-20 season conferred to table toppers, were presented with Rs 50 lakh in the last two seasons. As part of the ISL prize money reallocation, Football Sports Development (FSDL) has now allocated Rs 3.5 crore to the League Winners. The ISL champions -- winner of the final -- will now get Rs 6 crore (previously Rs 8 crore), while the runners-up will get Rs 3 crore (previously Rs 4 crore).
Poonam yadav joins wbbl
Melbourne: Spinner Poonam Yadav on Friday became the eighth Indian cricketer to sign for the Women’s Big Bash League after Brisbane Heat roped her in for the upcoming season. The 30-year-old diminutive India wrist spinner joined the Brisbane side to fill the spot left by the withdrawal of New Zealand star Amelia Kerr. Yadav is in the Indian squad for the ongoing multi-format tour of Australia. She played in two of the three ODIs against Australia but did not find a place in the playing eleven in the subsequent lone Pink-ball Test. Yadav has made a habit of wreaking havoc against Australian batters, including her 4 for 19 in last year’s T20 World Cup opener, and Brisbane will hope she can do the same in the WBBL.
Queen elizabeth launches baton relay
London: Queen Elizabeth II held her first major engagement at Buckingham Palace since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic a year and a half ago, as she presided Thursday over the launch of the baton relay for next year’s Commonwealth Games in the central England city of Birmingham. The 95-year-old monarch handed the baton for what are often referred to as the “friendly games” to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, who is fresh from winning two events in Tokyo. Cox, 30, took the baton on a brief journey around the nearby Queen Victoria Memorial in central London before handing it to another competitor. “It’s really special,” she said. “I fall into this category where I’m very diverse - I’m a female, disabled, Black athlete. For me I think that’s what the Commonwealth represents and especially being in Birmingham which is such a diverse place.”