It was BCCI, which had made a winning bid of £150,000 for Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra’s javelin when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s collection of mementos was e-auctioned last year, a Board official said. Neeraj had presented one of his javelins to Modi when Prime Minister hosted Indian athletes after the Tokyo Games. The javelin was part of many items that were presented during the e-auction, the proceeds of which went to ‘Namami Gange Programme’. “But we also bid for a couple of other collectibles. It (Namami Gange) is a noble cause and as one of the premier sporting bodies in the country, we had a duty towards the nation,” a senior BCCI official said. Apart from Neeraj’s javelin, BCCI also bought an angavastra, autographed by the Indian paralympic contingent for £100,000.
Lara replaces Moody as head coach of Sunrisers
There will be a change of guard at Sunrisers Hyderabad with West Indian great Brian Lara replacing Tom Moody as the head coach for the 2023 IPL season. The former West Indies captain, one of the games all-time greatest batter, joined the team last year as batting coach and strategic adviser. Lara has a number of batting records during his illustrious 26-year international career. The 53-year old made the highest individual innings Test score with 400 not out against England in 2004. He held the record for career Test runs until he was overtaken by India's Sachin Tendulkar in 2008. His 501 not out against Durham for Warwickshire in 1994 remains the highest first-class cricket score. Moody leaves after two stints with the team, the first between 2012 and 2019 when he drew the best out of a temperamental David Warner, made the playoffs five times and won the title in 2016.
Shardul replaces Krishna; Shreyas to miss Duleep tie
India seam bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur, who was originally picked for the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, has replaced injured India pacer Prasidh Krishna for the ongoing India ‘A’ versus New Zealand ‘A’ three-match four-day series in Bangalore. Down with back spasms, the 26-year-old Krishna did not play in the first four-day Test. Thakur has been replaced in the West Zone squad by Saurashtra’s left-arm seamer Chetan Sakaria, who played 1 ODI and 2 T20Is for India on their tour of Sri Lanka in July last year.
Zimbabwe stun Australia for first time
Zimbabwe stunned a nearly full-strength Australia by three wickets to claim a historic victory in the third One-day International in Townsville. After legspinner Ryan Burl (5-10) played a starring role in dismissing the hosts for a lowly 141, Zimbabwe overcame a wobbly chase to beat the cricket powerhouse for the first time in Australia when they hauled in the target in the 39th over, triggering scenes of celebration. It was a consolation victory for Zimbabwe to conclude the three-match series. “We showed a whole lot of fight. . . it was a testament to the work the boys put in,” said Zimbabwe skipper Regis Chakabva, who top-scored with a composed unbeaten 37.
India, Pak fined for slow-over rate
India and Pakistan have been fined 40 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in their opening Group A match of the Asia Cup. Jeff Crowe of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam’s sides were ruled to be two overs short of their respective targets 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 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” said the ICC in a statement. “Both captains pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. ”
