Chopra to play for Kolkata team

Delhi opening batsman Aakash Chopra, who is going through fine form, is set to play for Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata team in the lucrative Indian Premier League starting next month, reports IANS from New Delhi.

FICA slams anti-ICL stance

Training its guns at national boards for their discriminatory attitude towards the ICL, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association has argued players should be free to play in any tournament, reports PTI from Melbourne.

Tim May, the chief executive of FICA, said his organisation “neither supports nor rejects the ICL” and their aim “is to ensure that players rights are upheld and that they are not restrain players from plying their trade.”

Luzzi banned for betting

Federico Luzzi has become the fifth Italian player to be banned for betting on tennis since a worldwide investigation was instigated seven months ago, reports Reuters from Miami.

Paddlers end on winning note

The Indian men and women signed off on a winning note in the World team table tennis championships on Saturday, reports PTI from New Delhi. The men beat Slovenia 3-1 to finish 33rd, while the women downed Luxembourg 3-2 to bag 31st spot in the second division. Achanta Sharath Kamal lost 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11 to Slovenia’s Sas Lasan. Pathik Mehta restored parity with a 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 win over Mitja Horvat. Subhajit Saha beat Uros Slatinsek 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 before Kamal sealed the tie with a 13-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9 win over Mitja Horvat.

In the women’s section, Neha Agarwal lost to Luxembourg’s Xia Lian Ni 3-11, 6-11, 4-11 but Poulomi Ghatak made it 1-1, defeating Simone Haan 11-9, 11-8, 11-3. Mouma Das put India ahead, beating Carole Hartmann 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9. Poulomi lost to Xia Lian Ni 3-11, 6-11, 2-11. Neha beat Simone Haan 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 to seal the win.

Aussie Maher joins ICL

Jimmy Maher has become the fourth Australian to sign for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), attacking the rule that prohibits him from playing domestic county, reports IANS from Brisbane.

Bagan, Mahindra post wins

Mahindra United beat East Bengal 2-0, while Mohun Bagan rode on a Jose Barreto hat-trick to beat Mohammedan Sporting 3-0 in the 113th IFA Shield quarterfinal group league matches here on Saturday, reports PTI from Kolkata.

In another encounter, Churchill Brothers and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting played a goalless draw.