Lalit Modi quits cricket administration
Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi on Saturday resigned as the president of the Nagaur District Cricket Association with immediate effect, paving the way for the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) to get back into the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s fold. The former Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) chief wrote in a letter addressed to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and RCA: "I feel that the time is now ripe to pass on the baton to the next generation. Thus, today I want to bid goodbye to cricket administration for now." "I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years and more important your support to fulfil my dream," he said. Due to the presence of Modi, banned for life by the Indian cricket board for alleged corruption and misuse of power, the RCA was banned. The BCCI also stopped funding and didn't allow the Jaipur-based Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals to play their home ties at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the Pink City.
Russia to create national anti-doping lab
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed an order to set up a national anti-doping laboratory as part of the country's doping control campaign, it was announced on Saturday. The lab, which will be established at the country's Lomonosov Moscow State University, will use contemporary methods to provide anti-doping support to Russian national sports teams, said a statement. It will carry out independent testing of samples of biological materials for doping control and conduct research aimed at preventing and fighting doping in sports.
Federer punches ticket to Rogers Cup semis
19-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer remained on course to lift his 27th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, as he booked his place in the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup following a straight-sets victory over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut here on Saturday. The Swiss maestro, who recently clinched his 19th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, eased past Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 in a one-sided quarter-final clash that lasted one hour and eight minutes. By clinching his seventh straight win over the Spaniard in the men's singles event, Federer leads the ATP this season with five titles, including two grand slams, and improved his 2017 record to 34-2.
Gautam Gambhir joins organ donation awareness drive
Cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Saturday joined a campaign to encourage people to pledge to donate organs, at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals here. "I am extremely humbled to be a part of this drive. Organ donation is an egalitarian and a moral act," said Gambhir, who is also an ambassador for "Gift a Life." Gift A Life is an initiative launched in 2011 to create awareness about organ donation to save countless lives and is supported by the Apollo Transplant Institutes.
Indian men's Skeet team fetches bronze
Shooter Sheeraz Sheikh narrowly missed out on an individual medal even as the mens Skeet team comprising Sheeraz, Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Angad Vir Singh Bajwa settled for the bronze medal on day six of the 7th Asian Championship Shotgun at the Target Shooting Club here on Saturday. With the bronze, India's medal tally shot up to 7 in the competition. The Indian trio of Sheeraz, Mairaj and Angad shot a combined score of 347 out of a possible 375 to finish behind hosts Kazakhstan who won silver with a combined effort of 350. Team Kuwait won the gold finishing with an identical score of 350, but edged out the hosts on better finishing round scores.
Online betting racket busted in Delhi, three held
An online betting racket has been busted here with the arrest of three bookies, police said on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma said that the gang was arrested on Friday night from a rented house in north Delhi's Anand Vihar from where they were operating. Verma identified the accused as Vinod Sharma, Vikas Choudhary and Mukesh Aggarwal -- all residents of Delhi. Police also recovered 13 mobile phones, two laptops and three televisions, among other things, from the accused. The trio had placed a bet of around Rs four crore on a cricket match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) on Friday, the Deputy Commissioner said.
PCB recalls players from CPL
The Pakistan Cricket Board has called back centrally contracted players, besides the ones in contention for selection for the upcoming World XI series next month, from their ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and English county stints. The decision was taken owing to the late finalisation and rescheduling of the ICC World XI series, which will be played mid-September. The PCB has scheduled its National T20 Cup before the ICC World- XI series, so that the national team can leave for UAE to play Sri Lanka starting September 24.
13-year-old bags six wickets in an over!
Luke Robinson, a 13-year-old English schoolboy cricketer, produced a perfect over as he bagged six wickets in six balls, all of which were clean bowled. Robinson achieved the feat for Philadelphia Cricket Club's Under-13s in a cup game at Langley Park, near Durham City. Interestingly, Luke's family was all on the crease to witness his remarkable match-winning performance. While his father Stephen was umpiring at the bowler's end at the time, the schoolboy's mother Helen was scoring the match. Luke's younger brother Matthew was fielding in the match while his grandfather Glenn was watching from the boundary.
