Sri Lanka Cricket sends reconnaissance team to Pak
Lahore, Oct 28: The Sri Lankan cricket board has sent a reconnaissance team to Pakistan ahead of a tour to the country next month to play a number of T20 internationals. The team is meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and getting briefed on the travel and security arrangements for their team. They will also visit the venues in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad where matches are scheduled and get briefed by the organisers and police officials. While the SENA cricket nations normally send their security delegations to Pakistan ahead of tours to check all arrangements, it is unusual for Sri Lanka to carry out such a visit, especially since they were the first to tour Pakistan in 2019 after international teams refused to visit the country for 10 years following the terrorists attack on Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 in Lahore. Sri Lanka have visited Pakistan several times since 2019 and the country also hosted the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. The Sri Lankan team will first play a three-match bilateral series from November 11-15 and then take part in a T20 Tri-series, also featuring Zimbabwe, from November 19-29. Zimbabwe have replaced Afghanistan in the Tri-series. (PTI)
Arunachal CM reiterates govt’s commitment towards sports
Itanagar, Oct 28: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday reiterated the state government’s strong commitment towards sports and youth empowerment. “For us, sports is not just about competition; it is about character-building, discipline, teamwork, and resilience. These values shape great citizens as much as they shape great athletes,” Khandu said after inaugurating the 69th National School Games 2025 (Under-17 Boys & Girls – Boxing) at the Khelo India Indoor Stadium here. Highlighting investments in sports infrastructure, including establishment of Khelo India centres, multipurpose indoor halls, stadiums, and specialised academies for various sports, the CM said the government is also extending financial incentives, job reservations, and technical support to promising sportspersons to nurture their growth. The event marks the first-ever hosting of a National School Games competition by the state in the 71 year history of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). Expressing immense pride at this milestone, the chief minister called it a reflection of the state’s growing confidence and capacity to host major national events. (PTI)
Basketball Hall of Famer Billups embroiled in gambling scandal
Detroit (USA), Oct 28: Chauncey Billups earned a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame a year ago, recognising his resilience and clutch play in a championship-winning NBA career. His ability to bounce back and make all the right moves is being put to an entirely different test by a gambling scandal. Billups, who was placed on leave as coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was one of more than 30 people arrested last week for what federal law enforcement officials described as their involvement in various illicit gambling activities. The coach was alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes poker games with ties to three Mafia families. He also matches the credentials of someone described only as Co-Conspirator 8 in an indictment detailing how some people gave bettors inside information on player health statuses. Billups’ alleged involvement was stunning for someone with a sterling reputation, earning the NBA’s sportsmanship award in 2009 while playing for his hometown Denver Nuggets. (AP)
