Omar Abdullah hails Rasool’s debut
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Parvez Rasool for becoming the first cricketer from the state to play for India when the off-spinner took the field in the opening ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh on Sunday. “So very happy for Parvez Rasool. He’s got his 1st ODI wicket with the dismissal of Anamul. Let’s hope this is the 1st of many, well done,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter soon after Rasool took his first wicket. In the match played in Mirpur, Rasool finished with bowling figures of two for 60 in 10 overs. He dismissed Anamul Haque and Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim. (PTI)
Ballance ton turns Test in Eng’s favour
LONDON: Gary Ballance came to England’s rescue with a maiden Test hundred after Sri Lanka threatened to seize control at Lord’s on Sunday. England were 267/8 in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day of the first Test, a lead of 389 runs. The 24-year-old Ballance, entrusted with the key number three position in only his second Test, was 104 not out after going to his century in the last over of the day with a six off spinner Rangana Herath. Left-hander Ballance had earlier added 78 for the seventh wicket with debutant Chris Jordan after a top-order collapse. Things looked very different for England as they slumped to 121 for six after Shaminda Eranga took three quick wickets and left-armer Herath followed up with a quick double strike of his own on the way to figures of four for 95 in 23 overs. (AFP)
Corruption reports deliberate attack: Qatar
Doha: Qatar’s 2022 World Cup chiefs have insisted that reports of corruption are a deliberate bid to undermine a FIFA inquiry into their bid. A statement released by Qatar’s Supreme Committee for 2022 said the “leaks” were orchestrated, but did not say who by. “The timing of the release of these allegations is no accident,” said the statement, highlighting that the reports coincided with meetings between Qatar officials and FIFA investigation chief Michael Garcia. “It should be clear that these leaks are not an attempt to shine light on the 2018/2022 bidding process. They are, instead, a flagrant attempt to prejudice an ongoing independent investigation,” said the Qatar chiefs. (AP)
Li, Lee win Japan Open badminton titles
Tokyo: Top-seeded Chinese Li Xuerui beat Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan 21-16, 21-6 in 34 minutes to win the women’s singles title at the $250,000 Japan Open Super Series badminton here on Sunday. Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei was crowned the men’s singles champion after beating Hong Kong’s Hu Yun 21-14, 21-12 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong and Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi triumphed in the men’s and women’s doubles final, respectively. Chinese duo Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei took the mixed doubles gold. (IANS)