Sri Lanka's cricket coach Graham Ford has quit, officials said Saturday, midway through a 45- month contract and just two weeks after the team's early exit from the Champions Trophy.
	  Sri Lanka's cricket board said the 56-year-old South African was ending his second stint with the team after a "decision arrived at mutually."
	  No immediate replacement was announced. Sri Lanka will play a home series of five ODI matches and one Test against Zimbabwe from the end of this month.
	  Ford, who was previously with Sri Lanka from 2012 to 2014, had said he faced a huge rebuilding task when he returned to the team in February last year, when the islanders had dropped down the rankings.
	  Sri Lanka failed to reach the semi-finals of this month's eight-team Champions Trophy in England, and there have been recriminations with the country's sports minister accusing the players of being too fat.
	  "Sri Lanka has grown on me, and although we've made the decision to part ways where coaching is ..

Ford steps down as Sri Lanka coach

PTI Automatic

England won the toss and opted to field against India in their opening match of the ICC Women's World Cup here today.
     Teams:
     England: Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight(c), Sarah Taylor (w), Natalie Sciver, Fran Wilson, Danielle Wyatt, Katherine Brunt, Danielle Hazell, Jenny Gunn, Anya Shrubsole, Alex Hartley.
     India: Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Mona Meshram, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Sushma Verma(w), Poonam Yadav.

England opt to field against India in Women's World Cup

Yuvraj Singh's patchy form and fear of inclement weather will be paramount when India take on the West Indies in the second One Day International, here tomorrow.
     The first ODI was abandoned after 39.2 overs with India reaching 199 for 3 when persistent showers played spoilsport.
     Shikhar Dhawan's 87 and comeback-man Ajinkya Rahane's 62 were the highlights of the Indian innings.
     While weather is not in their control, what will keep Virat Kohli a touch worried is Yuvraj's form which doesn't exactly inspire confidence of the highest order.
     After a half-century against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy opener, Yuvraj's sequence of scores has been 7 (vs Sri Lanka), 23 not out (vs South Africa), 22 (vs Pakistan in CT final) and 4 (1st ODI vs WI).
     There is no debate on the class and experience of Yuvraj but at 35-plus, he surely is a shadow of his old self.
     His fielding has gone from bad to worse and skipper Kohli has not felt the need to summon him to bowl his ...

Focus on Yuvraj as India hope for rain-free 2nd ODI

Kidambi Srikanth continued his dream run and grabbed a third successive Super Series final spot at the Australian Open with a straight-game victory over China's Shi Yuqi here today.
     Srikanth, who had reached the summit clash in Singapore and Indonesia, joined Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, the Chinese duo of Chen Long and Lin Dan to become only the fifth player in the world to contest three successive Super Series finals.
     A former World No.3, Srikanth, who had reached the semifinals in the last edition, produced yet another near- perfect performance to outclass All England finalist Shi 21-10 21-14 in a 37-minute match to notch up his second win over the Chinese. Srikanth had beaten him at the quarters of the Singapore Open in April.
     "It's a dream performance," said Srikanth, who had suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle after the Olympics.
     "I played a World Super Series final (Singapore Open) after two years, and then to play the ...

Srikanth reaches 3rd successive Super Series final

Jason Roy's bizarre dismissal turned the second Twenty20 International's South Africa's way as the Proteas won by just three runs at Taunton on Friday.
     The narrow victory at Somerset's headquarters saw South Africa level the three-match series at 1-1 as bounced back from a nine-wicket defeat by England at Southampton two days earlier to set-up a winner-takes-all clash in Cardiff on Sunday.
     England were on course for an unbeatable 2-0 lead while Roy (67) and Jonny Bairstow (47) shared a second-wicket stand of 110.
     But when Roy was given out obstructing the field -- the first time this had happened in a T20 international -- the innings fell away.
     England's cause was not helped by batting second under increasingly dark skies in a match that started at 1600 GMT despite a lack of floodlights on the ground, although home skipper Eoin Morgan did field first after winning the toss.
     A target of 12 off the last over became four off the last ball after Liam Dawson hit ...

Roy's bizarre exit turns 2nd T20 South Africa's way

Rising star Christian Coleman eased into the final of the 100m at the US World Championship trials on Friday as hurdler Keni Harrison laid down a marker to her rivals with the fastest time of the year.
     Coleman, the fastest man in the world over 100m this season, clocked 10.04sec to comfortably win his semi-final at Sacramento's Hornet Stadium.
     In the women's 100m semi-finals, 2016 Olympic silver medallist Tori Bowie cruised into her final in a time of 11.03sec.
     Bowie was joined in the final by Allyson Felix, who is not expected to run the 100m at the World Championships in London. Felix edged into the final after finishing fifth fastest overall in a time of 11.22sec.
     In the women's 100m hurdles, world record holder Keni Harrison impressed with 12.54sec, the fastest time in the world this season.
     The 24-year-old is desperate to make up for the bitter disappointment of last year, when she missed out on the Olympics after finishing sixth at the trials in Oregon.
 

Coleman, Gatlin ease into final at US trials

Ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth's dream season just got better as the India made it to his third successive Super Series final beating Yuqi Shi 21-10 21-14 at the Australian Open, here today.
     Srikanth won the match in merely 27 minutes. Srikanth has previously reached the final of the Singapore Open and Indonesia Open. He was runner-up at Singapore while he won at Indonesia.
     His previous best was a semi-final appearance in 2016.
     Srikanth got better of qualifier Kan Chao Yu followed by World no. 1 Son Wan Ho and Praneeth respectively. He will face face the winner of the match between China's Chen Long and Korea's Lee Hyun Il in the final.

3 in a row: Srikanth reaches final of Australia Super Series

Indian batsmen had no trouble in getting a few easy runs under their belt before persistent rain led to abandonment of the first cricket One-dayer against the West Indies, here today.
     Shikhar Dhawan extended his red-hot form with a 87-run knock and Ajinkya Rahane scored 62 before rain forced an early suspension of the Indian innings.
     After two rain-interruptions, India's innings ended at 199 for three in 39.2 overs. The first time rain stopped play, India were 189 for three in 38 overs. Play resumed after loss of a few minutes but only 10 balls were bowled when rain again stopped play.
     The Indian innings could not be re-started after that and the hosts were set a target of 194 in 26 overs. However, rain denied a contest. The second match is scheduled for Sunday.
     Dhawan and Rahane did not quite set the stage on fire but batted comfortably to raise a solid 132-run opening stand on a slowish track, not conducive for stroke-play.
     They looked on course for big ...

Series-opener between India and West Indies washed out

Scoreboard in the abandoned
first cricket One-day international between India and the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval, here today.
 	India:
     Ajinkya Rahane	 c Holder     b Joseph	 	62
     Shikhar Dhawan	          lbw b Bishoo	 	87
     Virat Kohli	              not out	         32
     Yuvraj Singh	      c Lewis      b Holder	 	4
     MS Dhoni	                   not out	         9
     Extras (WD-5)	                                 5
	Total (For 3 wickets in 39.2 overs)	       199
     Fall of wickets: 1-132, 2-168, 3-185.
 	Bowling: J Holder 8-0-34-1, A Joseph 8-0-53-1, A Nurse 4-1-22-0, M Cummins 8-0-46-0, D Bishoo 10-0-39-1, J Carter 1.2-0-5-0.

 Scoreboard in the abandoned

Scoreboard in the rain-
affected first cricket One-day international between India and the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval, here today.
 	India:
     Ajinkya Rahane	 c Holder     b Joseph	 	62
     Shikhar Dhawan	          lbw b Bishoo	 	87
     Virat Kohli	              not out	         32
     Yuvraj Singh	      c Lewis      b Holder	 	4
     MS Dhoni	                   not out	         9
     Extras (WD-5)	                                 5
	Total (For 3 wickets in 39.2 overs)	       199
     Fall of wickets: 1-132, 2-168, 3-185.
 	Bowling: J Holder 8-0-34-1, A Joseph 8-0-53-1, A Nurse 4-1-22-0, M Cummins 8-0-46-0, D Bishoo 10-0-39-1, J Carter 1.2-0-5-0.

 Scoreboard in the rain-

Shikhar Dhawan extended his red-hot form with a 87-run knock before rain forced an early suspension of the Indian innings in the first cricket One-day International against the West Indies, here today.
     After two rain-interruptions, India's innings ended at 199 for three in 39.2 overs and the West Indies were set a target of 194 in 26 overs.
     The first time rain stopped play, India were 189 for three in 38 overs. Play resumed after loss of a few minutes but only 10 balls were bowled when rain again stopped play.
     The Indian innings could not be re-started after that.
     Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane (62) did not quite set the stage on fire but batted comfortably to raise a solid 132-run opening stand on a slowish track, not conducive for stroke- play.
     They looked on course for big knocks before an innocuous looking bowling line-up from the West Indies stopped them in their tracks. Like in the Champions Trophy, the Indian openers batted quite slow, scoring just 47 runs ..

Rain ends Indian innings at 199/3, West Indies need 194 in 26

Shikhar Dhawan extended his red-hot form with a 87-run knock before rain interrupted India's progress in the first cricket One-day International against the West Indies, here today.
     Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane, included in the playing XI in place of rested Rohit Sharma, did not quite set the stage on fire but batted comfortably to raise a solid 132-run opening stand on a slowish track, not conducive for stroke-play.
     They looked on course for big knocks before an innocuous looking bowling line-up from the West Indies stopped them in their tracks.
     India were 199 for three in 39.2 overs after being asked to bat when rains started lashing the Queen's Park Oval.
     None of the West Indies bowler troubled the Indian batsmen, who did not dominate the attack either, preferring to nudge the ball around to keep the scoreboard ticking.
     Dhawan's 87 came off 92 balls with 10 boundaries, including two shots over the ropes while Rahane took 78 balls for his 62-run knock that had .

Rain plays spoilsport after Dhawan's 87, India 199/3

Britain's Dan Evans tested positive for cocaine in April, the world number 50 announced today.
     The 27-year-old says he took the illegal substance out of competition and for reasons "completely unrelated to tennis".
     "This is a very difficult day for me and I wanted to come here in person to tell you guys face to face," Evans said at a London Hotel on Friday where he took no questions but made a statement.
     "I was notified a few days ago that I failed a drugs test in April where I tested positive for cocaine.
     "It's really important you know this was taken out of competition and the context was completely unrelated to tennis.

Britain's Evans tested positive for cocaine

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will play two exhibition matches at Hurlingham next week in a bid to get more grass-court action following his shock defeat at Queen's Club.
     Murray suffered an embarrassing first round loss against Australian world number 90 Jordan Thompson, robbing the Scot of valuable time on grass before the start of Wimbledon on July 3.
     The world number one, who has won Queen's a record five times, could have followed Novak Djokovic by entering next week's grass-court tournament at Eastbourne.
     But instead Murray has opted to hone his Wimbledon preparations by playing in the Aspall Tennis Classic, which also features Milos Raonic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych.
     The exact schedule of the 30-year-old's matches has not yet been confirmed, but he is likely to play on Tuesday and Friday.
     "It is great to be back at The Hurlingham Club. It's a great setting and an ideal opportunity to get grass court practice ahead of Wimbledon," Murray said.
 

Murray to play Hurlingham exhibitions after Queen's exit

Justin Gatlin says the prospect of lining up for one final duel against Usain Bolt is driving his weary body as he attempts to book his place on the US team for August's World Championships.
     The 35-year-old former Olympic and world champion said racing against Bolt in what will be the Jamaican superstar's farewell to track and field would be "special."
     "It's a part of history," Gatlin told reporters at the US trials in Sacramento.
     "For me, when I made my comeback into the sport, I said to myself, 'I just want to be shoulder to shoulder with him.'
     "Watching him run in the Olympics in 2008, when I was sitting at a restaurant, I said to myself, 'I want to run with that guy.'
     "There's no fear -- just a total respect for how fast he is, the competition he brings. So I want to make it to these last finals."
     Gatlin's rivalry with Bolt has been one of sprinting's most compelling narratives since the American returned to track and field in 2010 after a four-year ..

Gatlin dreaming of 'historic' final Bolt duel

Indian Super League might become country's premier tournament from next season but Mohammedan Sporting president Sultan Ahmed today said the fans will be deprived if they do not include the century old clubs of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and them.
     The Big Three heritage clubs of India are not part of the ISL as they have been adamant on their three-point demand including the waiver of franchise fees and the Trinamool Congress MP sounded helpless.
     "By not including century-old clubs Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting, ISL is depriving the Indian fans. We have millions of fans all over India," Ahmed said on the sidelines of their Iftar where they conferred their biggest honour, Shan-e-Mohammedan, to former India International Latifuddin Najam.
     "It's difficult to fight against the Ambanis (the organisers of ISL). We are helpless and will protest silently," he said.
     Talking about ISL, he said: "It has helped in many areas. It has given a lot of young ...

We're helpless, Indian football is deprived: Ahmed

The sixth edition of International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup will be held in Vashi (Navi Mumbai) on June 24 and 25 with 150 participants.
     The City Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO)'s CIDCO Exhibition Cenre in Vashi will once again play host for the World Cup.
     The Italy-based, IFSC has 86 member federations across five continents. Following the success of the World Cup in 2016 with over 8000 plus people in attendance at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre, the IFSC Governing Council voted to award India its second IFSC Climbing World Cup for 2017.
     The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) headed by Col. Chauhan is the host of the World Cup in India, with efforts being coordinated by Brig. Yadav, Chairman, Sport Climbing, IMF West Zone.
     The IMF has given the Mumbai-based Girivihar Mountaineering Club the responsibility to organise the event.
     IMF President Col Chauhan said:"Sport Climbing has grown in popularity in India over .

IFSC World Cup of Climbing will be held in Mumbai

Invited to bat, India were 189 for three against the West Indies when rain stopped play in the first cricket One-day international at Queen's Park Oval, here today.
     Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan (87) missed out on a hundred while Ajinkya Rahane scored 62 before being dismissed.
     Yuvraj Singh (4) also got out cheaply.
     Captain Virat Kohli (30) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2) were at the crease when skies opened up with 12 overs to go in the Indian innings.
     Brief Scores:
     India: 189 for 3 in 38 overs. (S Dhawan 87, A Rahane 62; Jason Holder 1/34, Devendra Bishoo 1/39).

India score 189 for three before rain stops play in 1st ODI

The BCCI today extended the deadline to apply for the post of Head Coach till July 9, ensuring that a broader pool is available to choose from after Anil Kumble's acrimonious exit.
     "The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended the timeline for submission of applications for the post of 'Head Coach' for India Men's Cricket Team. The candidates who have applied earlier need not re-apply and will be included in the final list of applicants. The last date for submission of applications is hence extended to the 9th of July, 2017," the release stated.
     The release states that applicants should be available for interview in person or via video conferencing by next week which means that the coach will be appointed before the Sri Lanka series starting last week of July.
     The process has been now extended by 16 days, which effectively gives former Team Director Ravi Shastri a chance to throw his hat in the ring.
     As of now, Shastri has not made his intentions ..

BCCI extends coach application deadline till July 9

Mohammedan Sporting Club today bestowed the honour of the Shan-e-Mohammedan to former India International Latifuddin Najam for his overall contributions towards the 126-year-old club.
     The Shan-e-Mohammedan is the Lifetime Achievement Award of Mohammedan Sporting Club, which is awarded annually to respect and laud indispensable contribution of football players to the club.
     "It is a great feeling that your services to the club have been recognised. I have always played for passion, and it was such a pleasure and joy to be able to do what I did," Latifuddin said after receiving the award and a sum of Rs 1 lakh at their Iftar Party today.
     "I never think of any awards while playing but today I felt honored to receive this award from Mohammedan Sporting Club. I wish this award will serve as an inspiration to the younger generation to do their best for the club."
     Son of 1952 Helsinki Olympian Syed Khaja Moinuddin, the Hyderabadi winger was one of the most skilled players .

Najam bestowed with Shan-e-Mohammedan honour

Sourav Kothari led RKG Snooker Champs overcame a stiff challenge from the Rockets 4-3 to become the first team to confirm their entry in the playoffs of the Bengal Premier League snooker meet here today.
     The highlight of the day was Pappu Penguin who were in sublime form and secured back-to-back wins to brighten their last-four chances.
     The marquee player of Pappu Penguin, Dharminder Lilly, gave a good start to the morning session match by defeating Rafath Habib of Black Panthers 72-27.
     Though they lost the next two frames to Black Panthers but after that pair of Digvijay Kadian and Shoaib Khan set highest break of 6Reds for this tournament by scoring 71 points.
     Even then, Shoaib Khan exhibited another scintillating performance by winning the singles 15 Red frame 61-28 against Gerard.
     Dhruv Agarwal of Pappu Penguin was waiting for his turn to show some skills and he did not disappoint the spectators as his clearance from Brown to Black mesmerised the crowd.
   

Page 2370 -