Chandigarh, April 21
New developments and revelations on Monday suggest that all three members of the IPL-6 spot-fixing probe panel nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are in conflict of interest situations, which could cast a doubt on the investigation.

The BCCI yesterday proposed the names of commentator Ravi Shastri, former CBI director RK Raghavan and former Calcutta High Court Chief Justice JN Patel for the panel to investigate allegations of corruption in last year’s IPL. Shastri’s conflict of interest as a paid employee of the BCCI is well known. However, today doubts were cast over the suitability of Raghavan and Patel for the probe panel, too.

Former BCCI president Sharad Pawar today said that he had been informed by “some BCCI member” that Justice Patel is a relative of BCCI's interim president Shivlal Yadav.

“I think Patel should definitely disclose if he is related to the BCCI’s interim president Shivlal Yadav. If not, then BCCI should clarify and should not allow these type of discussions,” Pawar said today.

“I don’t know him personally, but I think it is his duty to disclose if this news [information] is correct,” Pawar said. “This morning, I got a call from some BCCI member that there is a judge JN Patel. I know he was a very upright judge when he was here. He had taken very tough responsibilities and had performed very well. But the issue which I was not aware of, somebody rang me up from Andhra Pradesh this morning, saying the BCCI's interim president Shivlal Yadav and Patel are close relatives. Brother-in-law or something like that. I don't know.”

There could be a doubt over the suitability of Raghavan as he is the secretary of a cricket club in Tamil Nadu. This club, the Kamyuth Cricket Club, is affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). N Srinivasan, the BCCI president who has been forced to give up his position by the Supreme Court, is the president of the TNCA. Srinivasan is the central figure of the IPL spot-fixing scandal as it is his son-in-law who was found guilty of “betting and passing information” for betting on Srinivasan's IPL team, Chennai Super Kings.

Pawar also wondered whether it was proper for Shastri to be part of the investigation team. “Ravi Shastri is a good player,” Pawar said. “In fact, when I was BCCI chief [2005-2008], we signed a contract with him and Sunil Gavaskar. So, he had a financial contract with BCCI. Now, someone says how can a person who has got a financial contract with BCCI, become part of an inquiry committee of the BCCI chief?”

“I have no reservations about Shastri's integrity, his honesty. But definitely, anybody can raise the issue,” he added. “And that is why a sensible person will try to keep away from this (probe panel).”

Another former BCCI chief, Shashank Manohar, said that he was disillusioned with the way the BCCI's Working Committee meeting was held yesterday. “I can't disclose what happened at the meeting. All I can say is I was disillusioned with the happenings. I had gone there with the purpose of cleaning up the image of the BCCI in public domain, but I was disillusioned,” Manohar said.

Manohar had opposed the name of Raghavan but was outvoted 14-1.

The case comes up for hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The Supreme Court had directed the BCCI to advise it what steps it would take to ensure a free and fair probe into the IPL corruption scandal.

The Supreme Court had also barred Srinivasan from taking over as BCCI president as his name is on the list of 13 individuals against whom further investigations need to be conducted. 

Damning conflict?

Ravi Shastri: Paid BCCI employee, IPL Governing Council member

RK Raghavan: Secretary of a Tamil Nadu cricket club, which is affiliated to TNCA, which in turn is headed by N Srinivasan

Justice JN Patel: Allegedly related to BCCI interim president Shivlal Yadav

Sharjah, April 21
There’s a joke about Suresh Raina. It goes like this: If you want the left-hander to perform across all formats for India, he should be sent out in the Chennai Super Kings jersey. The joke has originated from his rather inconsistent showing for India and his spectacular performance for the Chennai Super Kings without fail, well almost, for six years on the trot.

It’s indeed rare to see the left-hander fail in the IPL; he didn’t disappoint on Monday either. While the Monday’s knock against Delhi Daredevils wasn’t anywhere close to several breathtaking knocks he has played in the yellow jersey, the 41-ball 56 was still good enough help Super Kings post a challenging 177-run total and then inflict a crushing 93-run defeat on Delhi Daredevils. Raina’s knock, though not sparkling by any stretch of imagination, helped the side build a platform from where they could launch a final assault. And at the forefront of that assault was skipper MS Dhoni, who hammered a quick fire 15-ball 32. The skipper could have inflicted more damage had Jaydev Unadkat not kept his nerve. The lanky left-arm bowler mixed up his pace well and dismissed both Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in the penultimate over of the innings.

Delhi Daredevils needed a strong start to chase down the total but some brilliant catching saw the openers, Mayank Aggarwal and M Vijay, return to the dugout in the blink of an eye. The burden of seeing the side through again fell on the shoulders of their last games’ heroes Dinesh Karthik and JP Duminy. This time, however, the duo failed, and the result was catastrophic, with the side caving in for just 84. While Daredevils will be heartbroken, the CSK camp will be overjoyed, especially with the performance of their bowlers. Glenn Maxwell had literally toyed with them, but the solid performance on Monday will make them feel a lot better.

Injured Bravo out of action

CSK has lost the West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo for the entire tournament. Bravo had hurt his shoulder while attempting a tough catch in the game against Kings XI. The injury turned out quite serious, and ruled him out of action for about six weeks. — TNS

Today’s match

Kings XI vs Sunrisers

Live on Sony Six (8pm)

Scoreboard

Chennai Super Kings

Smith b Nadeem 29 (28)

McCullum c sub (Parnell) b Unadkat 9 (10)

Raina c Vijay b Neesham 56 (41)

Du Plessis c Vijay b Shami 24 (17)

Dhoni c Agarwal b Unadkat 32 (15)

Jadeja c Karthik b Unadkat 7(3)

Manhas not out 13 (5)

R Ashwin run out 1 (1)

Hilfenhaus not out 0 (0)

Extras (lb 3, w 3) 6

Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 177

Fall of wickets:1-23, 2-77 , 3-108, 4-141, 5-156, 6-162, 7-173

Bowling

Duminy 4-0-26-0

Shami 4-0-45-1

Nadeem 3 -0-29-1

Unadkat 4-0-32-3

Neesham 4-0-29-1

Vijay 1-0-13-0

Delhi Daredevils

Agarwal c Raina b Pandey 2

Vijay c du Plessis b Sharma 11

Karthik b Ashwin 21

Tiwary c du Plessis b Pandey 0

Duminy lbw b Smith 15

Taylor c Dhoni b Hilfenhaus 6

Neesham c Raina b Jadeja 22

Nadeem c Raina b Jadeja 3

Shami c McCullum b Ashwin 1

Unadkat not out 1

Coulter-Nile absent hurt —

Extras (w 2) 2

Total (all out; 15.4 ov) 84

Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-15 3-17 4-42 5-50 6-74 7-80 8-82 9-84

Bowling

Pandey 4-0-23-2

Hilfenhaus 2-0-9-1

Mohit 3-0-17-1

Smith 2-0-14-1

Jadeja 2.4-0-18-2

Ashwin 2-0-3-2

MoM: SK Raina

Abu Dhabi, April 21
Though Chennai Super Kings is home to four international captains this season, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum insists that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the sole leader of the pack and says he has lots to learn from his Indian counterpart in his first year with the franchise.

“At CSK there is only one captain and that is MS Dhoni. He is the sole decision-maker when it comes to the on-field matters. There is not much team talk about that,” said McCullum when asked about his role in the team alongside other international captains in Dhoni, Faf du Plessis of South Africa and Dwayne Bravo of the West Indies. “However, as experienced leaders, we are expected to do small things off the field like guiding the younger players and helping out the team-mates with things they need assistance with. On the field there are smaller things like we must not wait for the captain to wave his hands at us asking to step a bit closer or further. We should be able to figure those things out with our experience,” he said.

Both McCullum and Dhoni are wicketkeeper-batsmen but the New Zealander clarified that there is not much in common between the two strong personalities.

“Well, there are many things that he and I don't have in common too. But yes, he is a very nice guy, very humble and one of the best captains in the world. I am pleased to have this opportunity to play under his leadership since there are many things one can learn from the man,” said McCullum, who had earlier played for the Kolkata Knight Riders where he famously blasted an unbeaten 158 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first-ever IPL game in 2008.

Asked whether he would like to take over wicket-keeping duties from Dhoni, the New Zealander said: “Oh, no, I am happy to let him do the job behind the stumps. My body is not up to regular work behind the wickets now. I am glad to be in the same team as Dhoni, who is a brilliant wicketkeeper. I am the backup option if the team requires one.”

The big-hitting batsman is also excited about his reunion with former teammate and Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming

“It has been a while since I have been in a team where Stephen has been present in a leadership role. It's nice to listen to the old stories again from him. For me, he was the best captain in the world when I played under him and now, after spending some time with him at the CSK camp, I feel he has grown further stronger as a leader and an individual,” McCullum signed off. — Agencies

New Delhi, April 21
He has taken the IPL by storm with a couple of brutal knocks but Kings XI Punjab's Australian import Glenn Maxwell says the mayhem that he causes with his bat is merely a bit of luck and his ability to “manipulate” fielders.

Maxwell steered Kings XI Punjab to a second successive win last night when he struck a blazing knock of 89 which came off 45 deliveries. This came after a his 95-run onslaught against Chennai Super Kings in his team's tournament-opener.

“You don't expect to make two big scores like that in a row and I have had a bit of luck as well. Hopefully, the luck stays with me and I can keep making some big scores,” Maxwell said.

“I actually try to manipulate the fielders as much as I can. It depends on the bowler and the size of the boundary, which I try to target. I targeted the short boundary tonight and the wicket was holding up when they bowled slower balls. At the moment, I have got something that is working for me and I am going to keep trying to do that as much as I can. It is just about batting the way you think you bat best and that is what I am trying to do,” he added. The all-rounder said he has so far enjoyed the pressure of chasing down huge totals.

“We have won chasing two big totals and we are pretty happy to be where we are at the moment. At the same time, we still have a lot to work in the nets. Our bowling and fielding has not been up to the mark in the first two games, but it is nice that the batting group can save them and get us over the line,” he said.

“I don't get burdened by pressure. Pressure is something that you put on yourself. I put pressure on myself before a game or before I go out to bat. But once when I go out there to bat, I just enjoy it and have a little bit of fun. I look at the total and take it from there.”

Maxwell said he felt frustrated when he could not complete the job and got out after bringing the team close to victory. “I did think (David) Miller would finish the game for us. With Miller and George Bailey to come, I thought we still had enough fire power to finish the job. I was frustrated when I got out since the job was still half done and I felt I should have been there to get those runs. It is frustrating to get out in both the games and not finish it,” he added. — Agencies

New Delhi, April 21
Indian boxer Shyam Kakara booked a ticket to this year's Youth Olympics besides assuring himself of a medal in the ongoing World Youth Championships after advancing to the semifinals with a thrilling quarterfinal win in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Monday.

The Andhra Pradesh boxer defeated Venezuela's Yoel Finol 2-1 in a draining 49kg bout to make the semifinal stage, which was a pre-requisite to make the cut for the Youth Olympics to be held in Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 28. “This is the biggest win of my career,” the 18-year-old said from Sofia. “I have won two gold medals and a silver in my previous international trips and I am now hoping to use it as a stepping stone to the senior level,” he added.

The Indian started the bout well by taking the opening round but Finol fought back to equalise. However, Shyam raised his game in the decisive three minutes to pull off the win.

“Our boy fought with aggression. The other guy was taller than him but Shyam made good use of combination punches to stay ahead. It was a close bout without doubt but our boy was slightly better,” national youth coach G Manoharan said. The Indians are competing under the International Boxing Association (AIBA) flag due to the termination following the federation's failure to comply with the world body's directives on holding elections. — PTI

New Delhi, April 21
Heena Sidhu is the first Indian pistol shooter to be ranked world No. 1 in women’s air pistol ratings. But just five months back, the 24-year-old was just another shooting hopeful who had never won a world level competition.

She got a call from the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) to participate in the World Cup final of the 10m Air Pistol event at Munich after three shooters ahead of her withdrew their names. That was the start of an incredible journey that saw her winning a gold medal and later a silver in the World Cup in US a few weeks back.

The Tribune caught up with Heena, a qualified dentist, for a chat during her visit to the Capital. Excerpts...

There aren’t too many Indians who are No.1 in their sport. You must be very proud of the achievement?

I am not proud. I am just happy that I am going in the right direction. Everything is turning out well for me at the moment. It’s a good confidence booster, winning all these medals. I am not thinking too much about the World No.1 tag because today I am there at the top, tomorrow I may not be. Ranking is just a number for me.

Talking about November 2013, you had never won a world-level competition. You got the opportunity at the Munich World Cup and went on to win the gold medal in the 10 metre Air Pistol event. Since then, you have not looked back. So do you think life has changed for you in the last five months?

I was able to repeat what I was doing in the training before heading to Munich. I did well in both qualifications and finals and ended up winning the gold. I had also reached the finals of Korea World Cup and Munich World Cup in my career but was not able to win the gold. Actually, there’s a different kind of pressure in the finals, and so I changed my training regime and worked on my fitness. It has also something to do it with new rules that have come into place. I changed my game accordingly and it helped.

For a long time, you were shooting in just the 10 metre Air Pistol category, but recently, you started participating in the 25 metre event as well. Was it a conscious decision to try out something different?

My coach has told me to participate in the 25 metre Air Pistol event and I was also looking to do the same for last 3-4 years. I started practising it after my marriage (to Ronak Pandit) when I shifted my base to Mumbai. I started visiting the Pune shooting range where you have the 25 metre Air Pistol facility. So, this is how it all started.

You have Ukranian coach Anatolli Piddubnyi to help you. He is a legend of sorts and was the coach of the erstwhile USSR team in the 1980s. Tell us something about him and how is he helping your game?

He is a legendary coach. He has given 10 world champions, three Olympic champions, four world-record holders and a number of other champions. He is like an old school coach. He believes in only sticking to the basics and not confusing the shooters and making your game complex. He only takes care of what is wrong with my technique and gets rid of my weaknesses. He keeps me grounded, he keeps me focused on basics.

What’s your opinion about the rule change where everybody starts the final round on the same score while earlier you could carry your qualifying round scores into the finals?

See, either I can love it or hate it. I choose to love it. Even if I don’t like it, there’s no point because they are not going to change it. The new rules are here to stay. I don’t think it has made much difference to the game. It’s just that you have to fire 20 shots in place of 10 shots which was the case earlier. If you choose to hate it, then you are inviting trouble.

It’s an important year with Commonwealth Games and Asian Games just a few months away. Are you eyeing a gold medal in these two quadrennial events?

I am not eyeing any medal. My job is to be a good shooter and repeat my performance at every match. If I think I have performed to my potential, it doesn’t make a difference if I don’t win a medal. It’s about achieving a certain level of satisfaction with your performance.

Margao, April 21
Bengaluru FC today wrote a new chapter in Indian football by clinching the I-League title in their debut season after a 4-2 away win over Dempo Sports Club, with captain Sunil Chhetri fittingly netting the final goal.

Needing a win to snatch the title ahead of other established teams, Bengaluru led from the start.

They scored through Sean Rooney, Robin Singh, John Menyongar and Chhetri. Dempo reduced the margin through Roberto Silva and substitute Romeo Fernandes.

The win helped the Southern club accumulate 44 points and take an unassailable lead with one match still to be played. The likes of East Bengal and Salgaocar Football Club will play for the second and third spot.

Coach Ashley Westwood was suspended for the game and assistant coach Pradyum Reddy took charge in the dugout.

But it didn’t matter as Bengaluru started with a flourish when Chhetri took a quick throw-in to Robin, whose shot across the goal was deflected in by Rooney.

After Rooney had given them a dream start in the second minute, there was no looking back.

Robin scored in the 56th minute to give his team a 2-0 lead. With ten minutes left to be played, Bengaluru put the issue beyond doubt when Menyongar made it 3-0.

There was brief fightback from Dempo as Brazilian midfielder Silva pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute and Fernandes then scrambled home to make it 2-3.

But Chhetri scored the winners’ fourth goal of the evening in the seventh minute of extra time. — PTI

New Delhi, April 21
With the World Cup just round the corner, Indian men’s hockey team chief coach Terry Walsh is realistic about his team’s chances and said his main “objective is to finish in the top 8” and anything higher than that will be a “big bonus”.

Walsh, however, believed India can climb up into the top six by the end of 2014.

“The World Cup is the second most important event after the Olympic Games. So every team is going to be prepared. Our objective is to finish in the top 8,” Walsh said after returning from a preparatory tour to The Hague, Netherlands, where the World Cup will be held from May 31 to June 15.

“But I think by the time we get to the Champions Trophy we should be shooting for a top 6 position in the world. I think that’s very realistic.”

Walsh said for a team like India, a positive start would be crucial. “Anything can happen at the World Cup, we could end up with a very outstanding performance. I think the first few games will be really critical,” he added.

During the just-concluded tour, India won one match, drew one and lost three. Asked about the importance of the tour, he said it helped in growing “self-belief” in the side. “We had the opportunity to play Holland on the pitch that will be at the World Cup. We had an idea about the European umpiring, European style of playing.”

“Overall, I think we grew during this tour and we will continue to grow in the rest of the year. Now we have a squad of players who have self belief. We have always known that the skills were there but the most important thing is that we now have the belief. The players now know how to handle crucial moments and that puts us in a good position. In my view it is a revitalised Indian team.”

While 18 players were part of the tour, 14 missed out but are very much in contention for a place in the World Cup-bound squad. “It’s hard to pick the players who haven’t been in the tour. But anything can happen in the next four weeks. I think there are opportunities for everyone to get into the final 18,” he said.

Talking about Sandeep Singh, who was the highest scorer in this year’s Hockey India League, Walsh said the experienced drag-flicker is well aware of his drawbacks.

“Sandeep is well aware of what he has to alter. We all know he is a very good drag-flicker but he has to become a much better distributor of the ball and he has to be much more agile. He has got an opportunity, he is working hard and the next couple of days will see where exactly he is,” Walsh said. — PTI

Harendra appointed coach of junior team

New Delhi: Hockey India (HI) today appointed former senior coach Harendra Singh as the coach of the junior men’s team to groom it for the 2016 World Cup to be held in the country. Harendra will join the training camp of the team on April 25. “The appointment of Harendra is in line with our efforts to prepare the team for the 2016 World Cup,” HI Secretary Narinder Batra said. “His experience as a coach will add huge value to the camp which is scheduled to start end of this month and we are pleased to have him on board.” Speaking about the appointment, Harendra said, “My coaching experience and its course till date has given me this splendid opportunity to work with the junior team and to spruce up the squad’s abilities and strength.” — PTI

Boston, April 21
Meb Keflezighi on Monday became the first US male athlete to win the Boston Marathon in three decades as onlookers chanted “USA! USA!,” an emotional performance in a city still recovering from last year’s fatal bombing attack on the world-renowned race.

Keflezighi, who was born in Eritrea but is now a US citizen, pulled ahead of a pack of elite African runners a little more than halfway into the race and held off a late challenge by Kenya’s Wilson Chebet. His official time was two hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds.

Among the women, Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo notched her second consecutive win of the race, smashing a 12-year course record with a blistering official time of two hours, 18 minutes and 57 seconds, reeling in American Shalane Flanagan, who had led the women for the first 20 miles of the 26.2-mile (42.2-km) race, setting a punishing pace. — Reuters

Madrid, April 21
Atletico Madrid sent Jose Mourinho packing without a major trophy in his final season in Spain and the surprise Champions League semifinalists are itching to land another blow on the Portuguese coach.

Mourinho’s Chelsea play their last four, first leg at the Calderon on Tuesday against an Atletico side riding high in La Liga and through to the semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 40 years.

In Mourinho’s third and final campaign at Real in 2012-13, they had been knocked out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona had wrapped up the La Liga title when they hosted Atletico in the King’s Cup final at their own Bernabeu stadium.

But Miranda’s extra time header secured a 2-1 comeback win for Diego Simeone’s inspired Atletico side in an action-packed and ill-tempered clash in which Mourinho and forward Cristiano Ronaldo were both sent off.

“You don’t have to be a magician to tell that the result of the final was not fair, that Atletico is not a just winner,” Mourinho had said after the match.

Now back at Chelsea, Mourinho is seeking to avenge that bitter reverse as he makes his latest bid to become the first manager to win the European Cup with three different teams after triumphing with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.

He and his expensively assembled squad face a stiff task against an Atletico team who are top of La Liga and closing on a first domestic league title since 1996.

Atletico warmed up for Tuesday’s clash with a 2-0 win at home to Elche, while Chelsea slipped to a shock 2-1 home reverse to Sunderland, Mourinho’s first league defeat at Stamford Bridge in 78 matches. — Reuters

Live on Ten Sports, 12.15 am

Madrid, April 21
Lionel Messi smashed in a superb free kick to complete a 2-1 comeback win for injury-hit Barcelona at home to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday that kept alive their slim hopes of a fifth La Liga title in six years.

After a wretched 12 days when they were eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, beaten in the King’s Cup final by Real Madrid and suffered a shock 1-0 reverse at lowly Granada in La Liga, Barca badly needed a morale-boosting victory in front of their fans at the Nou Camp. However, after Messi, Pedro and Alexis Sanchez squandered clear scoring opportunities, Aritz Aduriz fired fourth-placed Bilbao ahead five minutes into the second half, prompting rumblings of discontent among the home faithful.

Pedro levelled in the 72nd minute after more chances had gone begging and Messi struck the winner three minutes later when he drove the ball powerfully into the net, the forward’s 26th goal of an injury-disrupted season.

With four matches left including a trip to Barca on the final day of the season, surprise leaders Atletico top the standings on 85 points.

Barca are second on 81 points, two ahead of Real, who have a game in hand. Bilbao are a further 17 points behind Real and remain well placed to secure a berth in Champions League qualifying for next season.

“We are creating a lot of chances but finding it tough to put them away,” Barca centre back Javier Mascherano said. “We just have to do things as professionally as possible for the remaining few games,” added the Argentine, who made a superb block late on to deny Bilbao’s Mikel Rico. — Reuters

London, April 21
Manchester United are set to sack manager David Moyes less than a year after he took charge of the 20-times English football champions, British media reported on Monday.

United have failed to get going under Moyes this season and are languishing in seventh place in the Premier League, meaning they will miss out on a place in the lucrative Champions League for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

Moyes, 50, was appointed United’s manager last year on the personal recommendation of Alex Ferguson.

Several British newspapers carried similar reports online on Monday saying that Moyes had lost the support of the American Glazer family who own the club.

A poor performance in a 2-0 defeat away at Moyes’ former club Everton on Sunday was seen as the final straw.

United will have to invest around 150 million pounds over the summer months to rebuild an ageing squad.

The club board will have to decide whether it believes that Moyes is the right man to spend that money. — Reuters

Panaji, April 21
Maymon Poulose finally accomplished his dream of setting a national mark after the Kerala hurdler bettered the youth record in 110m hurdles by clocking 14.03 seconds on the second day of the 11th National Youth Athletics Championships here today.

While Poulose defended his title, Bengal boy Debarjun Murmu, who finished second in 14.25 secs, bettered the previous meet mark.

The previous national record of 14.06 secs was held by Saba Bhagat (Maharashtra) while the meet mark stood at 14.33 secs in the name of Amit Kumar Singh of Jharkhand.

Maymon, who missed the Asian Youth Games last year, is confident of making it to the Youth Olympic Games at Nanjing this time.

Maharashtra’s Ankita Gosavi also successfully retained her title by winning the girls’ 100m hurdles in 14.47 secs. — PTI

BRIEFLY

BAI to re-consider IBL schedule
New Delhi: Considering the busy international schedule, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is considering holding the second edition of the Indian Badminton League early next year. BAI was planning to hold the second edition from September 30 to October 15 but scheduling has been a problem this year with major international events like the Commonwealth Games in July and Asian Games in September raising doubts over the availability of top players throughout the duration of the tournament.

Moin to serve as chief selector and manager: PCB
Lahore: Former Pakistan captain has been named as the new chief selector and manager of the team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday. Moin, who previous served in the capacity of chief selector and most recently as the head coach of the team, was widely being tipped to take the job after it was turned down by former skipper Rashid Latif last week. Zaheer Abbas, who was serving as a batting consultant, has been appointed as the principal advisor to the PCB chairman Najam Sethi.

Australian coach joins emerging Afghans
Kabul: New Afghanistan Cricket Academy coach, Australian Peter Anderson, has started work in Kabul as the fast-developing team prepares to debut at next year's World Cup. Anderson coached Papua New Guinea for two years before his arrival in a country where cricket is a rare symbol of optimism amid war, corruption and poverty.

Hurts to lose but we will be back, says Samson
Sharjah: Rajasthan Royals' batsman Sanju Samson says he is not the one to cry over one setback for too long and would be aiming to finish off games for his team. “The wicket was supportive to the batsmen and the match was always alive even after getting 190-plus on the board,” Sanju Samson said after his team’s loss to Kings XI Punjab. “It was that kind of day for our opposition when everything went their way, and credit to them for the way they played,” he added.

Roach survives car crash
Barbados: West Indies pacer Kemar Roach has escaped with minor injury following a nasty car crash on a rain-lashed Bridgetown road. Roach was reportedly speeding away when his BMW flipped over several times before landing in the 3Ws park. The 25-year-old suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital. Roach took to Twitter a few hours later after the accident to reveal that he was recovering and in good health. “Sorry To Scare My Friends, Family And Fans But I'm Straight! Thanks For The Love! #BlessUp,” he tweeted. Roach has played 23 Tests and 61 ODIs but has not appeared up for WI in a year. — Agencies