Something wrong with Pak cricket system : Misbah

karachi: Pakistan's head coach Misbah-ul-Haq says the humiliating 0-3 hammering in a T20 series against a second-string SL has opened his eyes to the fact that there is something seriously wrong with the country's cricket system. “This series has been an eye-opener for us and everyone else. These same players have been around for a while now. More or less the same team which made us number one and has been playing together for around three to four years now, “ Misbah said.“ The result of series is also an eye-opener for our system as well. If we can lose to a side without its main players how did we think we were number one,” he added.

K’taka beat Mumbai despite Dube’s heroics

bengluru: A blazing 100 by all-rounder Shivam Dube went in vain, as defending champions Mumbai suffered a heartbreaking nine-run defeat against Karnataka in their Elite Group A match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday.Put into bat first at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, Karnataka posted a healthy 312/7 on the board and then bundled Mumbai out for 303 in 48.1 overs, with pacer Abhimanyu Mithun (3-40) and spinner K Gowtham (3-51) among the wicket-takers.For Karnataka, opener Devdutt Padikkal put up the highest score with 79 runs in 85 balls, striking 10 fours and a six.Padikkal and his opening partner K L Rahul (58) conjured 137 runs for the first wicket.

Punduchery surge ahead ; C’garh remain infray

dehradun: Arun Karthik made an unbeaten 86 as  Puducherry thrashed Arunachal Pradesh by nine wickets here on Thursday to dominate the Plate Group standings of the Vijay Hazare Trophy domestic one-day cricket tournament.Arunchal Pradesh's decision to bat first in a match reduced to 43 overs because of wet outfield backfired as they were bowled out for 179 in 42.3 overs at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy.Rahul Dalal top-scored for Arunachal Pradesh with a 47-ball 40 while wicketkeeper Uvais Ahmad made 39.Medium pacer Ashith Rajiv returned with 3/42, while veteran Vinay Kumar, Suresh Kumar and Sagar Udeshi chipped in with two wickets apiece for Puducherry.

Thai star cleared of doping

bangkok: Former badminton world champion Ratchanok Intanon bears “no fault” after testing positive for doping, the sport's governing body said Thursday, clearing the path for the Thai star to compete in the 2020 Olympics.The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said the women's world number 5 was found to be in violation of anti-doping regulations earlier this year.But Ratchanok, known as “May” in Thailand, was able to prove that the low amount of the banned substance clenbuterol was related to meat she had eaten at a barbeque restaurant. “She was found to bear no fault or negligence for the violation, and thus no period of ineligibility has been imposed on her,” the statement said.

Osaka picks Japanese citizenship

tokyo: Tennis star Naomi Osaka has decided to choose Japanese over American nationality with an eye on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, public broadcaster NHK reported Thursday.Osaka, who has a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, told NHK she has completed an administrative step to obtain Japanese citizenship ahead of her birthday next week.Japanese law stipulates that a Japanese with more than one nationality must chose one before turning 22 years old. “It gives me a special feeling to try to go to the Olympics to represent Japan,” the two-time Grand Slam champion told the broadcaster in an interview in Tokyo.

india’s campaign ends in single events of bwf

kazan: India's campaign in the singles competition at the ongoing BWF World Junior Championships came to a halt after Aditi Bhatt and Rohan Gurbani crashed out of their respective events here on Thursday.Aditi was shown the door by fourth seeded Indonesian Putri Kusuma Wardani 11-21 15-21 in a girls singles pre-quarterfinal contest that lasted exactly 30 minutes.It was the same outcome in the boys singles as Rohan lost 15-21,13-21 against junior world number 24 Ren Cheng Ming of China.Aditi, however, still has a medal chance as she will partner Tanisha Crasto in the girls doubles. The 12th seeded India pair will play Japan's Atsumi Miyazaki and Chihiro Uchiyama in the pre-quarterfinals late on Thursday night.

Haryana Steelers go down fighting against U Mumba

Greater Noida: Haryana Steelers fought hard against U Mumba before going down 33-39 in the Pro Kabaddi League here on Thursday.Kuldeep Singh and Sunil set the ball rolling for the Haryana Steelers with a couple of tackle points in the opening minutes of the match. Vinay pulled off a fantastic raid in the 4th minute to help Haryana take the lead at 4-3. However, U Mumba picked up some crucial raid and tackle points and took a three-point lead at 9-6 in the 11th minute.