Fans misbehave with IPL cheerleaders
Ranchi: The spectators at the JSCA Stadium on Tuesday were engaged in a deplorable act as they hurled water pouches at the cheerleaders, who had run for cover as they were worried about their safety. The cheerleaders, who were preparing to celebrate Chennai Super Kings’ MS Dhoni’s winning runs, ran to safer confines inside the stadium after the ‘missiles’ were thrown. The fans did not relent from throwing the pouches even after a second batch of cheerleaders appeared urging the crowd to show restraint. It was not known what provoked the crowd to indulge in such condemnable act. It was the first such incident at the JSCA Stadium since it hosted the first ODI between India and England in 2012 and several T20 matches. (PTI)
IPL council defers decision on MCA letter
Mumbai: The IPL Governing Council deferred its decision over the protest letter it has received from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) against the shifting of the cash-rich league’s final from Wankhede to M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. “No decision was taken today,” interim BCCI-IPL president Sunil Gavaskar told the waiting reporters at the BCCI’s headquarters. Gavaskar, however, did not reveal when the GC could decide to put an end to the impasse. Stung by the Governing Council’s decision to shift the final assigning any specific reasons, MCA president Sharad Pawar had shot off a protest letter to the Board. Pawar had shot off the letter to the IPL Governing Council and all BCCI members demanding the real reason behind shifting the T20 extravaganza’s grand finale to Bangalore from its original venue. The letter by Pawar had asked for the reason for this decision of the Governing Council. “Considering that 20 matches of the ongoing Pepsi IPL season were played overseas, the GC took a decision to try and take the play-offs to as many stadias as possible. Several venues had expressed their interest in hosting the play-offs,” BCCI had said when announcing the revised knock out schedule. (PTI)
Sunrisers will get better: Sammy
New Delhi: Exuding confidence that his team Sunrisers Hyderabad will make it to the IPL play-offs, swashbuckling West Indian all-rounder Darren Sammy has said the side is gelling well and will get better as the tournament progresses. “We have not performed at our best but we are peaking at the right time and by the time we qualify for the play-offs, we might be playing the best cricket and we will then eye the next stage,” Sammy told PTI in an interview. Sammy, who retired from Tests after being replaced by Denesh Ramdin as the West Indies Test skipper, revealed the mood in the Sunrisers camp is upbeat. “We are working well as a unit. The team players have gelled well and are performing to the best of their ability. And hopefully we will get better as the tournament progresses,” said Sammy. (PTI)
Sherwood leaves Tottenham
LONDON: Manager Tim Sherwood has left Tottenham Hotspur after six months in charge, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. The 45-year-old replaced Andre Villas-Boas in December and led Spurs to sixth place in the table. He signed an 18-month contract when he took over as manager but was widely expected to leave at the end of the season. “We appointed Tim mid-season as someone who knew both the players and the club,” chairman Daniel Levy said in a statement. “We agreed an 18-month contract with a break clause at the end of the season and we have now exercised that option.” Sherwood, who played nearly 100 league matches in midfield for Spurs after winning the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, rejoined the club as assistant first-team coach in 2008 and progressed through the ranks until handed his first senior management role. Speculation had mounted in recent months thattim Sherwood would not last beyond this season, despite having the highest winning percentage of any Spurs manager in the Premier League era. Frank de Boer of Ajax Amsterdam and Southampton’s Mauricio Pochettino have been linked with the job. (Reuters)