Lalit Modi gets interim protection from arrest

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi today got a three-week interim protection against arrest from the Bombay High Court in a criminal case against him in Rajasthan.The High Court allowed Modi to approach appropriate court in Rajasthan for seeking further relief within three weeks, directing that he not be arrested in this period.Modi, who resides in Mumbai, feared arrest by Rajasthan police after an FIR was lodged against him for cheating, impersonation, and fabrication of documents at Nagaur, Rajasthan on January 27 this year.Modi, had purchased land in Nagaur in September 2004, but it was alleged that he was not present in the office of deputy registrar when sale deed in his favour was registered.The IPL chief therefore filed an anticipatory bail application at Bombay High Court, alleging that FIR was lodged only to "pressurise him" and stop him from contesting forthcoming elections of Rajasthan Cricket Association, of which he is the incumbent president.Justice V M Kanade of the High Court disposed off his petition, restraining police from arresting Modi for three week

Trials for Jr. hockey selection begins

LAHORE: The two-day trials for the selection of Pakistan Junior Hockey Team started here on Monday at National Hockey Stadium where 90 players appeared. The selected players will attend a training camp for the build up of the team to take part in a 4-nation tournament being played from March 12-15 in Malaysia followed by a similar tournament in Egypt from March 21-27 and a tour of Europe in summer. “ Five sessions of trials were held and players were watched thoroughly on different position “,said chief coach of the junior team, former hockey Olympian, Khawaja Junaid while talking to media. He said six sessions of trials will also be held to finalise list of players. Chairman Selection Committee Hassan Sardar, members Farhat Khan, Khalid Bashir, Muhammad Shafiq, Junior team coaches Ahmad Alam, Danish Kaleem and Secretary PHF Muhammad Asif Bajwa observed the trials. He said 28 to 30 players will be retained to attend the camp at Islamabad from February 12 and final selection of the team will be made on February 18

Pakistan probables for SL series likely today

LAHORE: The selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC) will announce today the national team for the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.It will also announce the team for a two-day practice match against Sri Lanka while the series will include two Test matches.Chief selector Abdul Qadir said that chairman PBC Ijaz Butt has called a meeting in which Pakistan team’s coach Intikhab Alam and newly-appointed captain Younis Khan will also be present.In this meeting, 20-25 probable players will likely to be selected for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.As per Abdul Qadir, fitness and performance of the probables will be reviewed in the camp and later the final team will be announced.During the One-day International series against Sri Lanka, held in the last month, Pakistan suffered from the worst defeat after which Shoaib Malik was sacked as captai

Saeed Anwar ready to coach batsmen

LAHORE: Former skipper Saeed Anwar has said that he is ready to coach Pakistani batsman particularly the opening pair.Talking to Geo News here on Tuesday, the star opener said that our batsmen need to work more on their mentally toughness instead of physical training. Salman Butt and Nasir Jamsheed are good opening batsman, Anwar said, adding that he always advised Butt to play with open heart and don’t try too hard on his batting flaws.“I used to play Wasim Akran and Waqar Younis without helmet during the training camp which helped me a lot in batting,” he commented

Pakistan probables named for Test series against Sri Lanka

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee has here on Tuesday announced the names of 22 probable players for the forthcoming two-Test home series against Sri Lanka.The meeting, presided over by chief selector Abdul Qadir, was also attended by the national team’s coach Intikhab Alam and newly-appointed captain Younus Khan besides the members of the selection committee.The 22 selected probable players will report at the camp to be held in Karachi from February 15.Younus Khan ahs been appointed captain of the team while former captain Shoaib Malik has also been included in the squad. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out due to injury.Other players are: Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khurram Manzoor, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Fawad Alam, Bazid Khan, Saeed Bin Nasir, Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat, Danish Kaneria, Shahid Khan Afridi, Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Sohail Khan, Abdul Rauf and Saeed Ajmal.Besides, Kamran Akmal and Sarfaraz Ahmed have been included in the team as wicketkeepers.As per Abdul Qadir, fitness and performance of the probables will be reviewed in the camp and later the final team will be announced

Trials for Jr. hockey selection begins

LAHORE: The two-day trials for the selection of Pakistan Junior Hockey Team started here on Monday at National Hockey Stadium where 90 players appeared. 

The selected players will attend a training camp for the build up of the team to take part in a 4-nation tournament being played from March 12-15 in Malaysia followed by a similar tournament in Egypt from March 21-27 and a tour of Europe in summer. 

“ Five sessions of trials were held and players were watched thoroughly on different position “,said chief coach of the junior team, former hockey Olympian, Khawaja Junaid while talking to media. 

He said six sessions of trials will also be held to finalise list of players. Chairman Selection Committee Hassan Sardar, members Farhat Khan, Khalid Bashir, Muhammad Shafiq, Junior team coaches Ahmad Alam, Danish Kaleem and Secretary PHF Muhammad Asif Bajwa observed the trials. 

He said 28 to 30 players will be retained to attend the camp at Islamabad from February 12 and final selection of the team will be made on February 18

Aussie Bichel retires from first-class game

:Former Australian Test fast bowler Andy Bichel on Monday announced his retirement from first-class cricket after 17 seasons.Bichel, 38, who played 19 Tests and 67 one-day internationals for Australia, said he had been forced to quit because of an ongoing shoulder problem since having reconstructive surgery 14 months ago."I don’t want to let anyone down," Bichel told a press conference here Monday. "It (the shoulder) is good enough for grade (club) cricket, but I didn’t want to get out there (for Queensland) and not do what I used to do."Bichel captured 58 Test wickets at 32.24 and hit 355 runs with a highest score of 71.He finished two games short of 100 first-class matches for Queensland, but still chalked up an impressive list of milestones and achievements.He is the second-highest first-class wicket-taker in Queensland history with 463 wickets, behind only Michael Kasprowicz (505) and is the third-highest wicket-taker in Australian first-class domestic cricket, behind leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett and Kasprowicz.Bichel played 176 matches for Queensland (98 first-class and 78 one-day) and was a member of four first-class championship teams and three one-day title-winning sides for his state