McGrath Foundation raises $400,000

Calcutta: The Australian public has dug deep into their pockets to support the McGrath Foundation with over $400,000 as donation at the end of the fourth day’s play of the third and final Test between Australia and South Africa in Sydney on Tuesday.
In addition to the public support both on the website of the foundation and at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), a number of other organisations have joined hands to support the McGrath Foundation.

Malik captain

Karachi: Shoaib Malik was Tuesday retained as the national captain for an indefinite period by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ejaz Butt.

Chief operating officer of the PCB, Saleem Altaf, told reporters in Lahore that Butt used his powers as chairman to influence the decision without seeking approval from the governing council in view of a home series against Sri Lanka.

PCB contracts

Karachi: Shoaib Akhtar made the cut for the top category as the PCB Tuesday awarded annual central contracts to 26 players with some surprising omissions. Saleem Altaf, the chief operating officer of the PCB, said the players had been given contracts on the basis of seniority and their performances in last one year.

Tour request

Chennai: Zimbabwe’s cricket board has asked India if it could play in a limited-overs tri-series in Harare this year. India is awaiting a proposal and an itinerary from Zimbabwe before it can make a decision, a top official told a news agency on condition of anonymity

India advance

Kuala Lumpur: India made a resounding start at the Malaysian Super Series badminton with the pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas advancing to the main draw after notching up wins in the qualifiers here Tuesday.

Mahesh title

New Delhi: Mahesh Mangaonkar on Tuesday gave India its first British Junior Open (BJO) squash title in the boys’ category after a hiatus of four years, while Dipika Pallikal and Kush Kumar faltered in their respective categories to finish runners-up in Sheffield, the United Kingdom.

Australia out

Sydney: Hosts Australia were eliminated from the Hopman Cup in Perth after losing their second successive round-robin tie on Tuesday. Lleyton Hewitt and Casey Dellacqua lost the tie against Slovakia 1-2 after emerging second best in doubles.

Elena wins

Wellington: Olympic champion Elena Dementieva survived a stern test to beat little-known Taiwanese Chan Yung-jan 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter & Agencies