Sports
Asia Cup fate likely to be decided on May 28
Even as reports emanating from Pakistan say that the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could be implemented for the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said there could be an announcement on this during the IPL final.
The BCCI has invited the heads of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and it is believed that there could be an announcement after the meeting among the Asian boards on the sidelines of the summit clash in Ahmedabad on May 28.
“The respective presidents of the Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka Cricket Boards will grace the Tata IPL 2023 final to be held on May 28 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. We will hold discussions with them for outlining the future course of action in relation to Asia Cup 2023,” Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary and who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said.
Cricbuzz can confirm that over the last one week, some back channel discussions have taken place among the ACC members and there is an impression that some sort of consensus has been arrived at. The only point of contention is which country will be the second venue – UAE or Sri Lanka.
A UAE board official was in India during the IPL to request the BCCI to play in the Emirates which was the preferred choice of the BCCI for the IPL, Asia Cup and even Twenty20 World Cup during the pandemic times. The word was that the UAE board fell afoul with the BCCI and Shah was not keen on the Dubai-Sharjah-Abu Dhabi choices and was in favour of Sri Lanka. Unconfirmed sources say he relented after the recent discussions with the UAE official.
The hybrid model, proposed by the PCB, the designated host of the Asia Cup, was to have matches divided in Pakistan and the UAE with India playing its games in the Emirates. The model was resisted by the BCCI and the PCB chief Najam Sethi then presented a diluted model with Pakistan getting to host only four games and the rest in UAE. Clarity will emerge during the meetings in Ahmedabad over the second venue.
Unfriendly weather conditions in the UAE will also be debated during the Ahmedabad meeting as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh boards had previously refused to play the continental championship there because of baking heat in September. The PCB, however, is in favour of holding the matches in the UAE.
Consensus over the Asia Cup will have some inevitable positive upshots too and it could resolve any issues over the World Cup in India in October-November. The PCB had linked its participation in the World Cup to the Asia Cup conduct and a positive outcome during the discussions in Ahmedabad could prevent a stand-off in the lead up to the 50-over mega event.
(Cricbuzz)
Six-a-side school cricket is set to make a high-profile return to Moratuwa when the Old Boys’ Association of Prince of Wales’ College stages the Prince of Wales’ College 150th Anniversary Inter-School Sixes Cricket Tournament on August 29 and 30 at the De Soysa Stadium.
The two-day tournament is one of the major sporting attractions of the College’s historic 150th anniversary celebrations and
will bring together 16 leading school cricket teams for a knockout competition.
The tournament is aimed at reviving the excitement of six-a-side cricket, a format renowned for its fast pace and spectator-friendly nature, which has not featured regularly in major inter-school competitions in recent years.
The Old Boys’ Association believes the 150th anniversary provides the ideal opportunity to bring the format back to the forefront while celebrating Moratuwa’s deep-rooted passion for cricket.
Cricket has long held a special place in the hearts of Moratuwa’s residents, while Prince of Wales’ College boasts a proud cricketing tradition that has produced several outstanding players who have gone on to represent Sri Lanka at the highest level.
The organizers expect more than 5,000 cricket enthusiasts from Moratuwa and surrounding areas to witness the tournament over the two days, turning the event into a major festival of school cricket.
The opening ceremony on August 29 is scheduled to be attended by Kusal Mendis, one of the leading cricketers produced by Prince of Wales’ College and a member of the Sri Lankan national team.
The tournament will feature 16 schools, including Royal College Colombo, St. Joseph’s College Darley Road, Thurstan College Colombo, S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, D.S. Senanayake College Colombo, Sri Sumangala College Panadura, Richmond College Galle, Mahanama College Colombo, St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya, Wesley College Colombo, Ananda College Colombo and Mahanama College Panadura.
With the competition being played on a knockout basis, the compact format is expected to produce plenty of attacking cricket and give emerging players an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a large crowd.
Apart from the competitive aspect, the tournament is also intended to promote sportsmanship, friendship and fellowship among the participating schools.
The tournament will conclude on August 30 with a ceremonial awards presentation, with the participation of Eran Wickramaratne, distinguished invitees, representatives of participating schools, past pupils and members of the cricketing community.
The Old Boys’ Association has also expressed its appreciation to the corporate sector and event sponsors whose support has helped make the tournament possible.
Their contribution, according to the organizers, reflects the continuing partnership between Prince of Wales’ College, its alumni and the corporate community in supporting educational, sporting and development initiatives.
The six-a-side tournament is therefore expected to provide not only two days of entertaining school cricket, but also a fitting sporting celebration of 150 years of Prince of Wales’ College.
India 503/9 decl (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) drew with Sri Lanka 290 (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 429/9 f/o (Sonal Dinusha 133*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Ravindra Jadeja 3-94, Manav Suthar 3-121)
American golfer Matt Gogel has been suspended for six months for betting on golf tournaments, the PGA Tour has said.
The 55-year-old competes on the PGA Tour Champions circuit which is reserved for professional golfers aged 50 and older.
Gogel did not bet on events in which he was participating but admitted to unknowingly violating PGA Tour policy by placing “small recreational wagers” in 2024 and 2025.
“I would never knowingly violate the integrity of the game of golf,” Gogel said in a statement.
“I made an honest mistake and I look forward to playing in 2027 on the PGA Tour Champions.”
He had two top-10 finishes across 18 PGA Tour Champions events in 2026 and was most recently in action during the Rogers Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta where he finished tied 30th last week.
Gogel, who has earned more than $760,000 (£559,000) in prize money from Champions events, won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2002 – his only victory in 179 starts on the PGA Tour.
His suspension came into effect on 23 August and lasts until 22 February.
[BBC Sports]
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