After straddling in the Blue and Gold for 13 long years, Mumbai Indians ‘great’ Kieron Pollard has finally called time on his memorable IPL career. The former West Indies captain will continue with MI as their batting coach, which can only benefit a team that badly needs a makeover after failing to make the playoffs in the last two years. The 35-year-old will play for MI Emirates, owned by the franchise, in the ILT20 in the UAE. The move has also helped MI gain a big purse when they sit at the IPL auction table in Kochi on December 23, as they launch their quest to find life without their match-winner. Pollard, who owned the No 6 spot in the side for more than a decade, made it clear that the thought of playing for another franchise in the lucrative IPL didn’t even appear to him.
Poonam, Deepti, Sneh, Pooja named captains:
India players Poonam Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana were named captains of the four respective teams that will feature in Senior Women's Challenger T20 Trophy, to be played in Raipur from Nov 20. For fringe India and domestic players, the event will be a good platform to display their talent ahead of the home series against Australia next month. The inaugural Women's IPL takes place in March and that will be at the back of the players' mind.
Ranatunga ordered to pay over cricket feud
Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has been ordered to pay $70,000 in a defamation case arising from a long-running feud over control of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Ranatunga has been locked in a bitter battle with Thilanga Sumathipala, a four-time president of SLC, and the pair have regularly traded accusations of graft and match-fixing. The civil court judgment dates back to an incident in 2003, when Ranatunga said that his arch-rival was corrupt and unfit to helm the sport's national body. A court official said that Ranatunga had been ordered to pay $70,000 for the remarks. Ranatunga's spokesman said the decision would be appealed in a higher court.
Dhoni likely to work with India
After Indian team's disappointing performance at T20 World Cup, the BCCI is reportedly considering to use the experience of MS Dhoni, in some capacity, to prepare and plan for the 2024 T20 World Cup. According to a report, Dhoni could be in for a stint with the Indian T20 side and might get to work with a specialised set of players for the format.
Four more golds for India in shooting
India swept the air pistol events in the 15th Asian Airgun Championship in Daegu, Korea. Shiva Narwal won the men’s 10m air pistol, while Sagar Dangi picked up the junior men’s gold.
Maradona's ‘Hand of God’ ball sold for $2.4 mn
The ball punched in by Diego Maradona for his “Hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup has been sold at auction for nearly $2. 4 million by the referee who missed soccer’s most famous handball. Ali Bin Nasser, the Tunisian former match official who refereed the quarterfinal game between Argentina and England in Mexico, owned the 36-year-old Adidas ball that was sold at Graham Budd Auctions in London for 2 million pounds. Bin Nasser said before the auction he felt it was the right time to share the item with the world and expressed hope the buyer would put it on public display.
Wimbledon dress code exemption
Wimbledon will allow female players to wear dark-coloured undershorts from next year’s tournament to ease anxiety over playing during their period, the All England Club announced. There has been a clamour for Wimbledon to make an exception to their traditional rules requiring players to wear all white clothing.
Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton said: “We are committed to supporting the players and listening to their feedback as to how they can perform at their best. After consultation, the committee has taken the decision to update the white clothing rule.
