ATK sign Fiji striker Roy
Kolkata: Former champions ATK on Tuesday unveiled Fijian forward Roy Krishna as their first International signing for the next Indian Super League season. Krishna last played as a striker for Wellington Phoenix FC in the A-League, a professional men’s soccer league in Australia and is also the captain of the Fiji national team. “He is a prolific striker with leadership skills under his belt. He will add attack and variety to the team and his confidence will give an edge. I am very happy to have him in ATK,” head coach Antonio López Habas said in a statement. Krishna scored 19 goals in 27 matches in the 2018-19 season for Wellington Phoenix FC and is considered one of the best strikers in the history of the club and A-League. He is an equal asset as a left winger. Krishna started his career with the New Zealand Football Championship side Waitakere United from Fijian local outfit Labasa FC in January 2008. He started playing for Wellington Phoenix FC in 2014. In 2018-2019 A-League season, Krishna won the golden boot and was also awarded the Johnny Warren medal for his performances. (PTI)
BCCI turns down AFG request
New Delhi: The BCCI has turned down Afghanistan Cricket Board’s request to host its T20 league in India. It is rare for the Indian cricket board (BCCI) to say no to ACB as it has contributed immensely to the growth of Afghanistan cricket. “The ACB did request us to host its league in India but it would not be appropriate considering we have our own league (the IPL),” a BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday. The ACB officials had conveyed their request to the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and GM Cricket Operations Saba Karim during their meeting in Mumbai on May 16. ACB CEO Asadullah Khan had also asked for a third home ground in India after Dehradun and Greater Noida and on that front, the BCCI has no issues. Lucknow is likely to be their third home ground in India. “Since Dehradun doesn’t have a five-star hotel, hosting teams is an issue. We would prefer it to be Lucknow,” Khan had told PTI. (PTI)
Tennis ball cricket league
Mumbai: The cricketing world is all set to witness a revolution in popular cricket as the first league of its kind — Indian Tennis Cricket League (ITCL) — which will be played with a tennis ball, gets underway at the D.Y. Patil stadium here from the October 19.Stalwarts of the game have already been signed up by the league and more than 30 iconic players will go under the hammer to represent individual teams.Speaking at the launch, former India cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar said: “Reverse sweep was inspired by watching tennis ball cricket. I was talking to Wasim Akram in Dublin, and their fast bowlers have picked up their skills from tennis ball cricket. The skill set is different and it’s only picking up to become bigger and better. I myself have started my career playing with the tennis ball.”More than 8,000 players have registered themselves for the trials. A total of 128 players would be shortlisted for the bidders of eight team to recruit their squads through an auction to create their best sides consisting of 16 players each. (IANS)
Lampard eye Chelsea move
London: Rumours of Chelsea’s desire to replace Maurizio Sarri with club legend Frank Lampard as head coach has been gaining steam since the end of the previous season. Lampard, who is Chelsea’s all-time highest goal-scorer, nearly led Derby County to promotion to the Premier League in his very first season as manager before losing to Aston Villa in the playoff final.The 40-year-old’s uncle and football manager Harry Redknapp, who had given Lampard his senior debut at West Ham United, also said that his move to Chelsea seems imminent. “If Chelsea come calling, it’s a difficult one for him to turn down,” Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live. “In my personal opinion, he’ll be the manager of Chelsea. It looks to me like it’s going to happen.”British media has reported that Chelsea is looking to approach Derby County this week. (IANS)