The BCCI again had its way as there was no specific discussions during ICC Cricket Committee Meeting on uniform implementation of DRS but recent ball change controversy during Champions Trophy in England prompted the parent body to take some strong measures.
     "There was no specific discussions on the DRS issue," an ICC official told PTI today.
     However the recent incident where umpire Aleem Dar changed the ball during an ICC Champions Trophy match between England and Sri Lanka when the home team was bowling might have prompted the Cricket Committee to recommend some strong measures including five-run penalty to batting team.
     The committee has also recommended that bowling captain should be reported under ICC's Code of Conduct while the batsmen would have the prerogative of choosing the replacement ball.
     As per press release,"The formal introduction of a two-step process when the umpire believes the condition of the ball has been changed, but there is no eyewitness to 

No discussion on DRS, 5-run penalty if ball is changed

PTI Automatic

The International Cricket Council announced its much awaited World Test Championship which will have its inaugural edition in England during the month of June and July in the year 2017 while the second edition will be held in India in 2021.
     According to ICC media release "The IDI Board confirmed that the ICC World Test Championship will be staged in 2017 and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will host the inaugural event in June/July 2017, while the second edition will be held in India in February/March 2021."
     ICC's Chief Executive David Richardson also put the speculations to rest about ICC Champions Trophy being continued.
     "The ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales was highly acclaimed and appreciated by all. However, the principle of one pinnacle global event for each of the three formats over a four-year cycle is a good one and, as such, the ICC Board has agreed to replace the Champions Trophy with the ICC World Test Championship," Richardson was quoted as ..

ICC to hold its 1st World Test Championship in England in 2017

Mahi Racing Team India rider Kenan Sofuoglu will start the Imola leg of the 2013 World Supersport Championship on the front row after finishing second in the qualifying race.
     The defending champion set a time of 1'50.902 to finish behind Sam Lowes of Yakhnich Motorsport.
     This is the seventh race of the season with both the Mahi Racing riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Fabien Foret tied at second spot with 81 points.
     Sofuoglu, who is seeking a victory at Imola to close in on the top spot in overall standing, was satisfied with his performance and felt that he was in a position to challenge for the chequered flag in Italy tomorrow.
     "It was important to seal a place on the front row to challenge for the race win tomorrow. I am happy to achieve that goal," said Sofuoglu.
     Foret would start the race on 11th spot after setting a time of 1'52.203.

Sofuoglu to start on front row at Imola

Indian players enjoyed a fine outing at the Wimbledon with the seasoned trio of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna won their respective men's doubles matches to progress into the third round, here today.
     Fourth seeds Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek sailed past Britain's Jamie Delgado and Australia's Matthew Ebden in straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 55 minutes.
     Eight seeded Indo-Austrian pair of Bhupathi and Julian Knowle came from a set down to get the better off Nicholas Monroe of the US and German Simon Stadler 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 in a tough battle that lasted for two hours and 22 minutes.
     They will now take on the Canadian pair of Jesse Levine and Vasek Pospisil.
     Bopanna and his French-partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin had to fight hard before prevailing over Daniel Brands and Lukas Rosol in a gruelling five setter of three-hour duration.
     Bopanna and Roger-Vasselin pipped the German-Czech combination by 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) ..

Paes, Bhupathi, Bopanna advance with contrasting victories

Under-fire BCCI president N Srinivasan today put an end to all speculations by making his presence felt at the International Cricket Council annual conference in London by attending one of the sub-committee meetings via video-link.
     "Yes, Srinivasan attended the Finance and Commercial Affairs Meeting of the ICC via video-conference. He took active part in that meeting as it is one of the most important as well as powerful sub-committee of the ICC. Srinivasan attended the meeting by virtue of being a member on individual capacity," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
     Thus both interim in-charge Jagmohan Dalmiya and current president Srinivasan attended the meet albeit in different capacities. While Dalmiya attended the Annual Conference and Development Board meetings, Sanjay Patel attended the CEO's meeting.
     Srinivasan's attendance also made it clear that he is in no mood to relent and is waiting for the two-man committee probe to clear him of any ..

Srinivasan attends F&CA meeting of ICC via video-link

Sahara Force India registered their best qualifying performance this season with Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil setting the fifth and seventh fastest times at the Formula One British Grand Prix, here today.
     Scot Di Resta clocked 1:30.736s in Q3 to outshine his German team-mate Sutil, who recorded 1:30.908s, to enhance Force India's chances of a podium finish in their home race.
     Even though this is Force India's best-ever Saturday performance this season, Di Resta and Sutil started fifth and sixth on the grid in the Bahrain GP earlier this year after penalties were handed out to Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton.
     Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, with a timing of 1:29.607s, claimed the pole position for tomorrow's race ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg, who clocked 1:30.059s.
     Defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany was third quickest ahead of his retirement-bound Red Bull team-mate Australian Mark Webber.
     Di Resta ensured two British drivers in the top ..

Di Resta to start 5th, Sutil 7th in Force India's home race

The Mumbai Cricket Association today denied the charges levelled by BCCI GM (Game Development) Prof Ratnakar Shetty while replying to the legal notice sent by him and also refused to lift the five-year ban imposed as demanded by the senior administrator.
     Shetty was banned by MCA for alleging that some office-bearers of the association could have indulged in black marketing of tickets of a T20 international between India and Pakistan at Ahmedabad on December 28.
     According to sources the reply also rejected Shetty's contention that his name has been tarnished by MCA and that he had been a target of a personal vendetta.
     "He is now free to drag the MCA to court, if he wishes," said a top MCA official.
     Shetty, when asked whether he will move the court, said "yes, of course."
     Shetty, who has served the association in various capacities over the last three decades, was banned by MCA for raising the possibility of black marketing of tickets by some of its office ...

MCA sends replies to legal notice from Prof Ratnakar Shetty

The postponement of the players' auction might have raised some concerns about the upcoming Indian Badminton League but the organisers today claimed that top international players from 17 nations including China and Indonesia have agreed to release their top stars for the event.
     Contrary to some of the media reports, the IBL organisers today claimed that they have already received confirmation from top shuttlers of Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and China in addition to 12 others for the July 19 auction.
     According to an IBL release, world no.7 and the winner of the recent Singapore Open, Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto will lead the star parade from his country, along with Sony Kuncoro and Lindaweni Fanetri, who are men's world No. 10 and women's world No.11, respectively.
     Hong Kong's Hu Hyun, men's world No.6, Japan's Kenichi Tago, men's world No.5 and women's world No.10 Minatsu Mitani, and South Korea's bronze medallist in the 2012 London Olympics, Lee Yong-Dae ..

China, Indonesia players to be part of IBL, claim organisers

The ball-tampering controversy in the recently-concluded Champions Trophy continues to rankle English cricketers with batsman Ravi Bopara calling the allegations, made by former captain Bob Willis, "annoying sad and depressing".
     "We were doing well in that tournament and I felt it was unacceptable to make that sort of noise. It was annoying, sad and depressing, especially in the middle of a global competition," Bopara told the 'London Evening Standard'.
     English players were accused of tampering with the ball by Willis after umpire Aleem Dar changed the ball during their group match against Sri Lanka something which the hosts did not seem to like during the game.
     "When England are doing well, why does something negative have to come from it? Why not just get on the wave with England and enjoy it?" he asked.
     Willis, a commentator on Sky Sports, had stated that Dar was "on England's case" during the incident.
     "We've learned over the last 12-18 months that we need 

Ball-tampering allegations were annoying, depressing: Bopara

India's Ankita Raina hammered compatriot Eetee Maheta 6-3, 6-2 to lift the USD 10,000 ITF women's singles tennis tournament, here today.
     Second seed Ankita, who was playing in her fifth consecutive USD 10,000 ITF singles' final, was hardly troubled by the unseeded Maheta in the battle of baseliners.
     The world number 364 was the first to get off the block and raced to a 4-1 lead. Though Maheta tried to make a comeback by breaking Ankita's serve in the sixth game and held her serve on seventh, the eventual champion was in no mood for charity.
     The PYC Gymkhana trainee quickly brushed off the hiccup by winning the next five games to kill any chances of a contest.
     The victory also gave Ankita valuable 12 WTA ranking points.
     "This victory is very important for me as it gives me the confidence to go and play the USD 25000 and USD 50000 tournaments now," said Ankita, who reached the final of the USD 25000 tournament in Karshi, Uzbekistan earlier this month.
     "I ...

Ankita clinches USD 10,000 ITF title

Commonwealth Games scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi is set to preside over a crucial two-day Congress of the Asian Athletics Association starting here tomorrow, which will also vote on his re-election bid as president of the continental body.
     Kalmadi, who seeking his fourth term as head of the AAA, will be locked in a straight fight against Qatar Athletics Federation President Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad, who is also senior vice-president of the Asian body, on the last day of the Congress on July 1.
     The biennial Congress, which begins three days before the July 3-7 Asian Athletics Championships at a five-star hotel here, will also be attended by IAAF President Lamine Diack, besides some top officials from the AAA and the world body.
     The Congress, which is the governing body of the association, consists of a Council and not more than two delegates from each member of the AAA. However, each member country will have only one vote in the elections.
     The Athletics Federation of ...

Kalmadi to preside over crucial AAA Congress

A five-member Indian team today left to compete in the WKF Youth Cup and Karate World Championship to be held at Corfu, Greece from Monday.
     The tournament will conclude on July 7.
     The Team: Arko Chatterjee (Cadet Kata event), Pranay Sharma (Sub Junior Boys -50Kg Kumite event), Harshit Goyal (Cadet Boys +70 Kg Kumite event), Karl Vatcha (Sub Junior Boys Kata event), Rahul (Junior Boys +76 Kg Kumite event).
      Coaches: Viraf Vatcha and Aniket Gupta.

Karatekas leave for World Championships

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo is undaunted by the threat posed by a new-look Indian team and said tomorrow's game between the two sides would be a "cracker of a contest".
     "I know it is going to be a cracker of a game. We know India are a very good team; it is going to be a very good game. Both teams are very strong in bowling and batting. Let us see how Sunday comes out," Bravo said ahead of their Tri-nation One-Day series game against India at Sabina Park.
     West Indies began their campaign in the tournament with an easy six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, courtesy opener Chris Gayle's 100-ball 109, which included nine fours and seven sixes while chasing a 209-run target last night.
     On the other hand, India are on a roll after their Champions Trophy triumph and would aim to continue the unbeaten run when they take on the hosts, who would be eyeing revenge after their eight-wicket defeat in a league match of the eight-nation tournament.
     Bravo was all praise for ...

West Indies, India will deliver Kingston cracker: Bravo

Shane Watson has denied any role in forcing Australia cricket chiefs to take action against David Warner for the opener's attack on England's Joe Root.
     Earlier this month, Warner was fined Aus dollar 11,500 (USD 11,000) and suspended until the start of the Ashes in Nottingham on July 10 by Cricket Australia. The sanctions were for punching Root in a Birmingham bar following Australia's Champions Trophy loss to their arch-rivals.
     The fall-out from the saga then took a shock turn when coach Mickey Arthur was sacked on Monday, just 16 days out from the Ashes.
     Following Warner's suspension, there were reports in the Australian media that officials had only decided to discipline Warner after Watson had complained about double standards.
     Watson was one of four players dropped from the Test side during a 4-0 series loss in India earlier this year for failing to hand in a written feedback requested by team management.
     Watson told the Cricinfo website yesterday that ...

Watson denies forcing Warner issue

Former chess player D K Chopra, who was banned for life by the All India Chess Federation (AICF), today hit back at the governing body, saying he was banned based on "cooked complaints" on the behest of the officials.
     AICF banned Chopra after finding him guilty of various misdeeds during the past four years.
     However, Chopra hit back, saying: "I have to say that the most of the organisers and federation officials who are claiming that they are doing free service for the sportsman and the nation is a big lie but they are collecting crores of rupees by exploiting players directly as well as indirectly.
     "Being honest and discipline player, arbiter (knowledge of rules), coach I am not being liked by them. To discourage others they have banned me for life," he added.
     While announcing his ban, AICF had said that several complaints were received, especially regarding Chopra's misbehaviour with women and children during tournaments.
     But Chopra said, "No protest was ...

Banned Chopra hits back at AICF

Clean Sports India (CSI) today welcomed International Olympic Committee's decision to postpone IOA Extraordinary General Meeting to amend it's constitution.
     IOC had set a July 15 deadline for the amendment of the IOA Constitution so that elections are held by September 1 to pave the way for lifting the ban on India imposed on December 4 last year but the CSI President Ashwini Nachappa feels that the world body might not be satisfied with the amendments sent by the Indian Olympic Association.
     "It appears that IOC is not satisfied with the amendments sent by IOA as they do not cover crucial issues like prohibiting criminally tainted officials from holding any position in IOA and National Sports Federations," said Nachappa.
     IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper said in his letter dated 28th June, 2013 addressed to Sports Minister and IOA President "given the complexity of the issues which have to be addressed (including good governance and ethics), the IOC needs more ..

CSI lauds IOC for deferring deadline to amend IOA constitution

In a reprieve to the suspended Indian Olympic Association, the IOC has decided to extend the deadline for adopting an amended constitution, the draft of which is currently being reviewed by the world body.
    IOC had set a July 15 deadline for the amendment of the IOA Constitution so that elections are held by September 1 to pave the way for lifting the ban on India imposed on December 4 last year.
     "I would like to inform you that, given the complexity of the issues which have to be addressed (including good governance and ethics), the IOC needs more time to coordinate all comments internally," IOC Director General, Christophe De Kepper said in his letter addressed to India's Sport Ministry Jitender Singh.
     "The IOC will therefore not be able to meet the deadline initially established (15 July) for the first Extraordinary General Assembly of the suspended IOA to take place. Consequently, this initial deadline of 15 July will have to be slightly extended until the IOC can ...

IOC postpones July 15 deadline to amend IOA constitution

On a roll after their Champions Trophy triumph, the Indian cricket team would aim to continue the unbeaten run when they take on the West Indies, who would be eyeing revenge, in their opening clash of the tri-nation ODI series, here tomorrow.
     The Indians got barely a few days to rejoice after their Champions Trophy win before boarding the flight to the Caribbeans and fatigue could be the only worry for a side which looks in unbeatable form.
     The West Indians, on the other hand, would be eager to extract revenge for the loss to India in a Champions Trophy group match.
     The hosts have in fact, started impressively in the ongoing series mauling Sri Lanka in their lung-opener. The biggest positive from the game was the return to form of Chris Gayle, who was slightly off-colour in the Champions Trophy.
     Gayle's marauding hundred, which included seven sixes and nine fours, helped the West Indies overhaul a 209-run target in a mere 37.5 overs. He would without doubt be the ..

Upbeat India take on West Indies in tri-series opener

Afghanistan have been granted the Associate membership of the ICC, making it the eighth Asian nation and the 38th overall to get the status.
     "Afghanistan is the only country that receives the Associate membership in a short period of time in reward to the efforts Afghanistan made for the promotion of cricket," Dr Noor Muhammad, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), said on the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) website.
     Looking at the immense progress shown by Afghanistan, the ACC had last year sent the nomination request and the decision to grant Afghanistan the status was taken by the ICC at its ongoing annual conference, which concludes in London today.
     Afghanistan now join Hong Kong (1969), Kuwait (2005), Malaysia (1967), Nepal (1996), Singapore (1974), Thailand (2005) and UAE (1990) as ICC Associates from the Asian region.
     "It is a tremendous achievement by Afghanistan, the current administrators have worked very hard to advance Afghanistan's interests and much 

ICC grants Associate membership to Afghanistan

Opener Chris Gayle was at his attacking best as he smashed a 100-ball 109 to fashion an easy six-wicket victory for the West Indies against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Tri-nation One-Day series here.
     The big-hitting Gayle blasted nine fours and seven sixes in front of his home crowd to make an easy work of the 209-run target at the Sabina Park.
     This was Gayle's 21st ODI ton and third on this ground, the previous one coming against New Zealand last year.
     Even as Gayle got out after bringing his side to the doorstep of victory -- the West Indies needed just 28 runs for win in 19 overs -- they lost two more wickets after the Jamaican's dismissal.
     But skipper Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels kept their cool to see the hosts through for a bonus-point win with 73 balls to spare.
     After helping himself to two fours, Gayle did what he is best at -- hitting Jeevan Mendis straight over his head for a six to get the local crowd on their feet.
     That was just ..

Gayle blasts ton as Windies start campaign with easy win

Top seeds and title favourites Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, having comfortably survived the cull of Wimbledon stars in the first week, aim to move into the fourth round today.
     World number one Djokovic takes on French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy who he has defeated six times in six meetings without dropping a set.
     The pair's last meeting was in the first round at Wimbledon in 2011 when Djokovic cruised through for the loss of just six games on his way to his first and only title at the tournament.
     The Serb has yet to drop his serve at Wimbledon this year, but having seen Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both knocked out in the first three days, he is taking nothing for granted.
     "I don't think about the final because it's still a very long way. I think the fact that the top players lost in the last few days gives enough reason for all of us to not underestimate any opponent and not look that far," he said.
     "It's sport. This is what happens. Everybody, ...

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