Decision on 200th Sachin Test delayed
New Delhi: The meeting of the Tours and Fixtures Committee of the BCCI which was earlier scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Thursday to decide on itinerary of the West Indies series has been deferred by a week. The decision to defer the meeting has been taken as there is no clear indication as to which city will host Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th Test match although Mumbai and Kolkata are the two frontrunners for the historic match. While BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said that the BCCI was yet to take a decision on the date and venue of the meeting, a senior member of the Tours and Fixtures Committee informed PTI that “the meeting has now been deferred by a week”. Mumbai being Tendulkar’s home city has a claim to host the 200th Test match but BCCI president N Srinivasan has shown an inclination towards allotting the match to Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium instead of Wankhede Stadium, which has hosted most of India’s international matches in recent times including the World Cup final in 2011. According to sources within the BCCI, Srinivasan does not want to award the match to Mumbai Cricket Association as Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is all set to come back as the state unit president. Srinivasan and Pawar are in different camps and that is said to be the reason that the BCCI president wants to award the match to CCI. (PTI)
Brathwaite takes Windies A to 283/6
Shimoga (KARNATAKA): Zaheer Khan got his name in the wickets column but it was a patient 82 by opener Kraigg Brathwaite that helped West Indies A reach a decent 283 for six in 90 overs after opting to bat in the second four-day first-class match here on Wednesday. Brathwaite along with middle-order batsman Asad Fudadin (63) added 117 runs for the fourth wicket to ensure a position of safety for the visitors. Fudadin joined Brathwaite in the post lunch with West Indies A in a none too comfortable position at 98 for three. While Brathwaite faced 202 deliveries hitting 13 boundaries, Fudadin faced 107 balls hitting seven fours in the process. Both were dismissed in quick succession that saw the Caribbeans reduced to 215 for five before Leon Johnson (36) along with Chadwick Walton (30) scripted another recovery act with a crucial 68-run partnership for sixth wicket. For India A, left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt (3-76) was the most successful bowler while Zaheer (1-44), Mohammad Shami (1-59) and Pervez Rasool (1-71) got a wicket apiece. (PTI)
Nalbandian announces retirement
BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s 2002 Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian announced, on Wednesday, that he will quit tennis next month citing physical problems that have sidelined him for most of the year. “It’s not easy what’s happening to me now, my shoulder is not helping me to train as I should for the circuit,” the 32-year-old told a news conference. “It’s a tough day to (have to) announce my retirement today,” said Nalbandian, winner of 11 ATP Tour titles including the season-ending ATP Championship in Shanghai in 2005. The former world number three, who had shoulder surgery in May, said he would quit tennis after playing an exhibition match against world number two Rafael Nadal in November. (Reuters)
Vettel can expect quieter crowd in Korea
SEOUL: Sebastian Vettel has heard boos from the crowd after winning the last three races but Sunday’s Korean Grand Prix should put a stop to that. Fed up Formula One fans hoping to see a different driver standing on the top step of the podium may be disappointed but they are more likely to be shouting at their television sets than making a noise in Mokpo. The Yeongam circuit, reached after a three hour journey south from Seoul, is near a remote port more on the map for shipbuilding than tourism or a passion for motorsport. “The atmosphere at the track isn’t great because there aren’t many spectators, but the track’s got some challenging sections and some good corners,” commented Vettel’s Red Bull team mate Mark Webber, a view backed by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. “It’s a good racing track with places that you can attack to overtake which makes it a good challenge for the drivers,” Hamilton said. (Reuters)