Rohit Sharma set to be face of T20 Mumbai League
MUMBAI, April 17: India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma is set to be the ambassador of T20 Mumbai League with the MCA expressing hope that the city’s other stars such as Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav will make themselves available for the event that was halted owing to the COVID-19 pandemic after two editions.The league was held in 2018 and 2019 before the pandemic led to its suspension. Rohit has retired from T20 Internationals but continues to play in the IPL.Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Tushar Deshpande and Prithvi Shaw are some of the popular Mumbai players. Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal moved to Goa a few days ago.Most of them are busy with their IPL commitments right now. The MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) event will not start before the IPL’s conclusion on May 25.“We have not made it mandatory for them to play but we strongly expect them to play in the T20 Mumbai League. Their participation will only help Mumbai cricket grow, and benefit the players and the league,” an MCA official told PTI.Rohit will be present at an event to announce the league here on Friday.It is also learnt that the MCA is contemplating a pay of Rs 15 lakh each for the “icon players” in the competition.The MCA has received more than 2,800 entries for the event.The tournament will comprise eight teams with two new sides to be announced soon.The other six teams are North Mumbai Panthers, ARCS Andheri, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, Namo Bandra Blasters, Eagle Thane Strikers and Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs. (PTI)
Smriti Mandhana named icon player of Ratnagiri Jets
PUNE, April 17: India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was on Thursday named the icon player of Ratnagiri Jets who will compete in the Women’s Maharashtra Premier League.The inaugural edition of the WMPL was set to be held in June last year but was postponed due to South Africa Women’s tour of India, and the dates could not be worked out later.Ratnagiri Jets have won the men’s edition of the Maharashtra Premier League for two years in a row.“The franchise has demonstrated success in the MPL and a clear vision for the women’s game. I’m excited to play a part in shaping the next chapter of this journey and cannot wait to hit the ground running with my new teammates,” Mandhana said in a release. (PTI)
3000m steeplechaser Sable to run in Diamond League
XIAMEN, (China) April 17: National record holder 3000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable will feature in the season-opening Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen, China on April 26, which will have a top-class field, including reigning Olympic and world champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco.Paris Olympics and World Championships bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya, who had beaten Sable for gold in the 2022 CWG, is also in the fray.Sable is competing for the first time since the Diamond League Final in September last year, where he finished ninth with a time of 8 minutes and 17.09 seconds.His national record stands at 8:09.91. He finished 11th at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with a time of 8:14.18.He has already qualified for the World Championships in September in Tokyo on the basis of the Paris Olympics timing.Sable is set to miss the April 21-24 Federation Cup National Championships in Kochi, which is the final selection event for the Asian Championships in Korea next month.The AFI has made participation in the Federation Cup mandatory for the athletes to get selected for the Asian Championships except for those who has permission to train or compete abroad. (PTI)