No one can take on Srini, rues Manohar
Mumbai: Former BCCI President Shashank Manohar rued that there is no one in the Board to take on N Srinivasan, who is facing the heat over the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal. Srinivasan, who had ignored repeated calls for his resignation, has been stripped of his presidential powers by the Supreme Court till he is cleared of alleged wrongdoings in the scandal. “The Board lacks leaders to take on Srinivasan who is shamelessly and stubbornly sticking to his chair. Nothing has moved in the last one year. The outbreak of the scandal happened in May 2013 and we are currently in April 2014,” Manohar told PTI from Nagpur on Thursday. Manohar wants someone in the cricket administration to get up and raise the issue at the Emergent Working Committee meeting which has been convened on April 20 at the Board’s headquarters here. “In BCCI, the powers (related to Board functioning) are vested with the Working Committee and the General Body, and not with the President,” he said. (PTI)
Rosberg, Hamilton to ‘clear the air’
Shanghai: World championship leader Nico Rosberg said that his Mercedes team would sit down on Thursday night and clear the air between him and Lewis Hamilton after their battle in Bahrain. Hamilton held off his clearly quicker team mate over the final few laps to win his second race in a row after a ding-dong duel, during which Rosberg complained over the radio, “That’s not on”. Rosberg admitted to reporters on Thursday that it had “taken a while” to get over coming second to Hamilton but added he was fully focused on Shanghai this weekend “because I know I can win here”. “It was an enjoyable fight, during the race anyway,” added Rosberg, who scored his maiden victory in China two years ago. Rosberg’s outburst came after the pair came “so close I couldn’t have got my hand between the two wheels,” he claimed on Thursday. But he added they would iron out any differences during an evening team meeting. (AFP)
Alonso pays tribute to retired Domenicalli
Shanghai: Fernando Alonso paid tribute on Thursday to former Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, who sensationally quit this week, and admitted that he had not even spoken to the new man at the helm. Domenicali stepped down on Monday, after a torrid start to the season, culminating most recently in the team’s drivers trailing in ninth and 10th in Bahrain two weeks ago. “Stefano is a great man, first of all, and I am a close friend of his – that is no secret,” said Alonso in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix. “We still have a close relationship, we have been talking throughout the week, and that will continue because we have known each other for many years,” added the two-time world champion. He was replaced by Marco Mattiacci, former president and CEO of Ferrari North America, and Alonso confessed he knew little about his new boss, who was absent from the circuit on Thursday. (AFP)
Hulkenberg denies strike threat over wages
Shanghai: Nico Hulkenberg denied reports on Thursday that F1 drivers were threatening to go on strike over unpaid salaries, but he called for quick action to resolve the problem. Hulkenberg said it was “not good for the sport” that drivers were kept waiting for their wages and said discussions were underway to find a solution. Germany’s Sport Bild magazine claimed this week that several drivers for smaller teams, including Hulkenberg, who drove for Sauber last year, were still owed unpaid wages dating back to 2013. (AFP)
Yusuf flies home to be with wife, newborn
Dubai: Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Yusuf Pathan flew back to India shortly after the teams’ thumping win against Mumbai Indians in the IPL opener after the news of his wife delivering their first baby reached the UAE. Yusuf, 31, is likely to miss KKR’s second match against Delhi Daredevils but the hard-hitting batsman is expected to return by the third game, confirmed a team official. Sent into bat at No. 5 with just a couple of overs remaining in the innings, Yusuf remained unbeaten on 4. He did not get to bowl. (PTI)