PAKISTAN ASIA CUP FAVOURITES: MANJREKAR

MUMBAI: Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar believes India are one of the main contenders to lift the ongoing Asia Cup, but tipped Pakistan as the favourites. India play Pakistan on Wednesday. “I think Pakistan start as favourites more than India, because they have been playing in those conditions (in the UAE) for a while now and it’s a team which is on the surge. India, of course, are resting Virat (Kohli), which takes a lot of strength away from the team,” Manjrekar said. “India are obviously one of the contenders, but when you look at favourites, which team can be rated as the strongest? It’s Pakistan because of where it (the tournament) is being played.”

Aim is to identify No. 4 and 6 batsmen: Rohit

DUBAI: Rohit Sharma on Monday said Indian team’s objective will be to identify players for the number four and six slots in the Asia Cup. The India captain made it clear the likes of Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu are fighting for middle-order slots. “Lot of spots are up for grabs like Nos 3, 4 and 6. We want to give chances to as many guys for this particular series. We need to seal the slots Nos 4 and 6,” Rohit said.

Sehwag resigns from DDCA cricket panel

NEW DELHI: Virender Sehwag on Monday said he resigned from the Delhi and District Cricket Association’s cricket committee keeping the body’s interests in mind. Sehwag, along with committee members Aakash Chopra and Rahul Sanghvi, had recommended the retention of Manoj Prabhakar as bowling coach but it wasn’t ratified by the management. The trio’s resignation was accepted because the state body will submit a new constitution as per Supreme Court orders in the next two days and fresh panels need to be made. ‘’Looking at the best interests of Delhi cricket, we would like to inform you that all three of us would not be able to continue with the assignment of Cricket Committee,” Sehwag said.