2nd ODI vs NZ: Bangladesh team fined for slow over-rate
Dhaka, April 22: The entire Bangladesh squad has been fined 10 per cent of its match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the second men’s ODI here on Monday, the ICC stated in a media release. ICC match referee Andy Pycroft imposed the sanction after Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s side was ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. “In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” the release further stated. Mehidy pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. (PTI)
Indian deaf cricket team unveils new jersey for series against SA
New Delhi, April 22: The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) on Wednesday unveiled the new Team India jersey for the upcoming two-match ODI and three-match T20I series against South Africa in Pretoria. The series will take place at Sinoville Cricket Club, Pretoria, from April 25 to May 2. The unveiling ceremony was held in the presence of IDCA Support Partners, IDCA board members, and the India players participating in this series.. The Indian team will leave for Pretoria on April 24. (PTI)
Would be fantastic to have an Indian race: F1 driver Alex Albon
New Delhi, April 22: As India pushes to bring Formula One back to the country, Williams driver Alex Albon on Wednesday said a return would be “fantastic” and one he would be “excited” to be part of. The Indian Grand Prix was held from 2011 to 2013 before being discontinued due to tax and bureaucratic hurdles. However, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is now pushing for F1 to return to India as soon as the 2027 season. “It would be fantastic to have an Indian race. I’ll be excited to drive there. From what I’ve heard, there’s been a big interest in F1 throughout India recently,” Albon said in response to a PTI query. The proposed venue is the Buddh International Circuit, which hosted all three previous editions of the race. While India is once again being viewed as a key growth market for the sport, with Formula One recently stating it has a fanbase of 79 million in the country, a race in 2027 is unlikely. FanCode is the official broadcaster of F1 in India. (PTI)
11 Indians in fray at Singapore Open with qualification at stake
Singapore, April 22: Top golfers Gaganjeet Bhullar, SSP Chawrasia, Jeev Milkha Singh, and Karandeep Kochhar are among the golfers on the impressive roster of 11 Indians for this year’s Singapore Open, which tees off on the Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club on Thursday. The 57th edition of Singapore’s National Open is part of The International Series and will carry a prize purse of USD 2 million. Something that the Indian contingent will eye dearly is that this year’s Singapore Open will pave the way for qualification to the 154th Open this July, wherein the leading two players, not otherwise exempt, will be rewarded with spots in the game’s oldest Major. Kochhar, who has been in scintillating form over the past few months, is one of the headlining acts this week. Joining him will be other Indian heavyweights such as 11-time Asian Tour winner Bhullar; Chawrasia, with 6 Asian Tour titles; Jeev Milkha Singh, who has twice won the Asian Tour Order of Merit and has 6 Asian Tour wins; and Shiv Kapur, also a 3-time Asian Tour winner. Former winners Ajeetesh Sandhu and Rashid Khan will be teeing up at the Singapore Open, as will the young brigade from India comprising Pukhraj Singh Gill, Sachin Baisoya, Shaurya Bhattacharya, and Shubham Jaglan. The Singapore Open was last played at Sentosa Golf Club in 2022, when Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana beat Tom Kim from Korea. Apart from Sadom, the field this year also features a stellar global lineup that includes LIV Golf stars Lucas Herbert of Australia, Josele Ballester and Luis Masaveu from Spain, Americans Peter Uihlein, Caleb Surratt, plus Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren. (IANS)
World Snooker C’ships: Trump pulls away to down Wilson
Sheffield, April 22: World number one Judd Trump won five of the last six frames to surge to a comfortable 10-5 win over Gary Wilson at the World Snooker Championship. The 31-time ranking event winner is aiming to capture snooker’s biggest prize for just the second time in his career, having beaten John Higgins in the 2019 title match. Trump held a 5-4 advantage coming into this evening’s session, having rallied from 4-1 down this morning. Wilson crafted contributions of 58 and 33 in the opener to regain parity, but Trump responded by taking two on the bounce to open up a 7-5 cushion. He continued his momentum in the next, making 71 to lead 8-5 at the mid-session. “Gary is a great player, he’s won three ranking events and was always going to be tricky. I just tried to keep my composure. I knew if I played my best I’d have a great chance of winning. He started off well and all the long pots were going in there. I just had to try and stick in there in the first session,” said Trump. (IANS)
