Danish to continue to fight against ban
Karachi: Pakistan’s banned leg-spinner, Danish Kaneria will not give up his fight to get his name cleared and seek damages from the England and Wales cricket board which imposed the punishment on him for spot fixing. A court of appeal in the United Kingdom on Tuesday turned down an appeal by Kaneria against the life ban. The judge in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal, the Rt Hon Sir Stanley Burnton also ruled that Kaneria could not request this decision to be reconsidered and an ECB statement later said that “Kaneria has exhausted all the legal options available to him to appeal a life ban imposed for his role in spot-fixing while playing for Essex.” But brother of Danish said the matter was not over. “We are facing lot of financial difficulties because of the legal costs we have incurred since 2012 but we will support Danish all the way. He is convinced he has not got justice nor has any court heard him properly so he wants to fight on as he is innocent,” Vicky Kaneria told PTI. “We will sit down with our lawyers and decide the future course of action.” A source close to Danish said he still had the option of approaching the European Courts or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – but what he has to consider was could he now bear the financial costs of these appeals. The ECB banned Kaneria in mid 2012 for his role in spot fixing in county cricket and one year later the appeal’s panel of the ECB dismissed his appeal. (PTI)
PCB earns profits of 800 mn rupees
Karachi: The outgoing chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi, has claimed that in the fiscal year ending June, 2014 the PCB, which was in danger of going bankrupt in three years’ time, has ended up with profits of 800 million rupees. Sethi, who is stepping down as PCB chairman as the board prepares for fresh elections on August 18 to elect a new chief, said the amount was the highest pretax profits since 2011 against budgeted deficit of 366 million rupees for this fiscal year. “This has been achieved mainly due to austerity measures, economies of all scales and generation of better revenues especially television rights,” he said. Sethi said there had been a 12 percent reduction in administrative costs in his tenure compared to previous year. “This entails mainly reduction of staff, elimination of unnecessary travel, elimination of unnecessary advertisement and promo expenses.” According to him, 657 million rupees were budgeted for matches at neutral venues but actual expenses were 500 million, leading to a reduction of 24 percent while there was also a reduction of 17 percent in expenses on tours outside Pakistan. “246 million rupees was budgeted while actual expense is about 217 million,” he added. (PTI)
Uttarakhand rowers to represent India in Youth Olympics
Chennai: Amit Kumar and Atul Kumar of Uttarakhand Rowing Association, accompanied by coach Jenil Krishnan (Andhra Pradesh) will be representing India in the 2nd Youth Olympics Games being held in Nanjing, from August 17 to 20. According to a press release by M V Sriram, secretary, Rowing Federation of India, the trio would be leaving New Delhi tomorrow to China and would participate in the Junior Mens Coxless Pairs. India had qualified for this event after a good show at the Asian Junior Rowing Championships at Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 2013. (PTI)
I feel disrespected by ad-hoc body’s behaviour: Mary Kom
New Delhi: Olympic bronze medallist M C Mary Kom is still smarting about the last-minute postponement of the Asian Games trials, alleging that the ad-hoc body members have “disrespected her achievements” by not bothering to inform her about their decision. “I was very hurt when I came to know that the trials have been postponed. What surprised me was that they didn’t even bother to inform me till the last minute. Is that what I deserve having brought so many laurels for the country at international competitions? I feel the organisers (ad-hoc) didn’t support me and also feel disrespected,” Mary Kom told mediapersons at a promotional event of the CRPF here on Tuesday. Mary Kom feels that this precedent is not very good for aspiring boxers who are toiling to bring glory to the nation. “Just imagine, if they are doing this to me, what will happen to the talented juniors who are coming through the system. Well, it did disturb my training for the Asian Games trials. But now I am focussed and raring to go. I am ever-ready for the trials. Today, tomorrow or whenever, my job is to compete,” said ‘Magnificent Mary’. However, one question she didn’t like was about new sensation Pinky Jangra. When a scribe was about to question the five-time world champion about “CWG silver medallist Pinky”, she cut him short and said, “It was a bronze1.” And does she feel that finally she has some competition in India, Mary Kom replied, “I will not answer this question now. I would certainly like to give an answer to this question but it will only be after the Asian Games trials. About competition, it’s a healthy thing and should always be there.” (PTI)
‘No more signings for Bayern’
BERLIN: Bayern Munich will not sign any more players during the current transfer window despite a series of injury setbacks as they prepare for Wednesday’s German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund. Last season’s domestic double winners, seeking revenge for last year’s defeat by Dortmund in the same game, will be without injured defender Rafinha and winger Franck Ribery is doubtful. Long-time absentee Thiago Alcantara’s comeback will also have to wait with coach Pep Guardiola refusing to pin down a date for his return. “No, no new players,” Guardiola told reporters in Munich. “Thiago will be back and Rafa will be back and Franck will be back so I am happy about this squad.” Defender Rafinha suffered torn ankle ligaments on Saturday and will be out for some time. Spain international Thiago Alcantara sustained knee ligament damage in May and was ruled out of the World Cup. “Thiago will be back soon. He really wants to come back as soon as possible but for these issues we have a doctor and you should ask him,” Guardiola said. Fellow Spaniard Guardiola, in his second season at the Bavarians, will also have to handle the fatigue of his club’s six World Cup winners who have only recently returned to training following Germany’s triumph in Brazil last month. “It’s great for these players and obviously for the club,” Guardiola said. “They have time, I know what they can do but they need time. At the moment we have no time.” (Agencies)