Pak is peaceful, says Lawson

Describing Pakistan a “peaceful and hospitable” nation, the country’s Australian cricket coach Geoff Lawson has urged Ricky Ponting not to be concerned about the security.

“Look I have been living in Pakistan now for the last few months and they are one or two places where security is an issue. But apart from that Pakistan remains a safe place to play cricket,” he said.

Kiwis, WI agree to play in Pak

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally gained some success in reducing the gap in their Future Tours Program (FTP) calendar after New Zealand and West Indies agreed to play a tri-series in August this year, reports PTI from Karachi. A senior PCB official said that efforts have been made during the recent ICC meeting in Kuala Lumpur to arrange some one-day matches for Pakistan in the vacant period in the FTP calendar over the next few years.

Indians continue good show

Indian men blanked Thailand 3-0 to finish atop their group, while the women got the better of Estonia by an identical margin to end up third in their group after the first stage of the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Guangzhou, China, reports PTI from New Delhi. In the men’s clash against Thailand, national champion Achanta Sharath Kamal started the proceedings, beating Phakphoom Sanguansin 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6. Soumyadeep Roy, who has been struggling with his form until now, finally came good defeating Phuchang Sanguansin 11-2, 3-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 in a see-saw battle. Subhajit Saha then sealed the issue for India, thrashing Chaisit Chaitat 11-9, 11-5, 11-6.

Approve ICL: Buchanan

Former Australian coach John Buchanan has advised the International Cricket Council to stand up to the BCCI and recognise its rebel venture Indian Cricket League so that the game and players in all nations benefit from the Twenty20 competitions, reports PTI from Melbourne.

Buchanan, who has signed up to coach Kolkata franchise of the Indian Premier League, said it was important to retain the older as well as the young talents, many of whom were also preferring to play in the ICL, another Indian T20 league which is being opposed by the national boards.

ESPN inks deal with TA

The ESPN has inked a seven-year contract with Tennis Australia to cover the prestigious Australian Open tennis tournament, reports PTI from New Delhi.

As per the contract, ESPN will have the cable and satellite, IPTV, DTH and terrestrial rights of the annual hard court event. The broadcast will cover 23 countries across South Asia, South East Asia and North Asia, except China, from next year, an ESPN statement said.

Misbah to play for Kolkata in IPL

Pakistan’s batting mainstay Misbah-ul-Haq signed up to play for the Kolkata team in the Indian Premier League set to start from April 18, reports PTI from Karachi.

Indian shuttlers disappoint

India's challenge in the Yonex German Open met with a disappointing end Wednesday as all the three entries crashed out in the singles first round at Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, reports IANS from New Delhi.

Ninth seeded Sridhar caved in meekly to unseeded Korean Seung Mo Shon 11-21, 5-21. Anand Pawar,  put up some resistance against eight seeded Indonesian Andre Kurniawan Tedjono before going down 10-21, 21-12, 15-21.

Arvind Bhatt lost to Erwin Kehlhoffner of Germany 16-21, 21-17, 18-21.