Darren Bravo reprimanded for breaching ICC Code of Conduct
Christchurch: West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has been reprimanded for using obscenity while batting against Pakistan in their Pool B cricket World Cup match here today, an ICC press release said following the Caribbean team’s 150-run victory. The West Indian was found guilty of breaching Level 1 Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International match”. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee. The offence happened in the first innings when the left-handed batsman used an audible obscenity whilst batting. Bravo, who scored 49 before a hamstring injury forced him to retire hurt, admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Boon. After that the Australian ruled out any possibility of a formal hearing. (PTI)
South African fans searching online more about Indian team
Guwahati: Ahead of the fourth face-off in the World Cup between India and South Africa, supporters of the Proteas are searching online more about the opponent than their home team. According to global search engine Google, search interest for the home team in South Africa have surprisingly gone down by half in the last few days. “The fans are busy searching for their rival team India, (which is) witnessing significant search interest from South Africa before the upcoming clash at MCG,” Google said in its report on search trends. The overall trends show a spike in online searches as team India gets ready to reverse its dismal record against South Africa in previous World Cup matches. India have never won against South Africa in a World Cup, losing to them in 1992, 1999 and 2011. “South Africa, often called the most jinxed team in the World Cup, go into this match not as the favourites against title holder India, a team that’s historically been a favoured one when playing at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds,” Google said in the report. The analysis of the trends shows that star batsman Virat Kohli leads the Indian team with highest search interest after his centurion knock against Pakistan last Sunday. (PTI)
Pak fans protest over cricket team’s performance
Karachi: Disheartened Pakistan cricket fans took to the streets, expressing their protest after the national team posted below-par performances in the first two matches of the ongoing World Cup. In Multan, which is the hometown of some of the top Pakistan cricketers including former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, a group of youngsters took out the mock funeral of the team in the Farooqabad locality and also set on fire an effigy of the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and presently on its board of governors, Najam Sethi.During the mock funeral, the protesters also carried banners criticising the players and head coach Waqar Younis, and also raised slogans against them. What has further irritated the fans are the reports coming in from New Zealand of senior players Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal misbehaving with fielding coach and trainer, Grant Luden and Shehzad having an argument with Waqar in the nets over his shot selection. “The players who think they are bigger than the game must be sacked,” protesters shouted while carrying placards and banners. (PTI)