The Hindu (Erode)

Amarnath backs BCCI’s directive on players turning out for domestic tournament­s

- S. Prasanna Venkatesan

India cricket legend Mohinder Amarnath here on Wednesday welcomed BCCI’s decision to lay emphasis on domestic cricket, making it mandatory for all fitandavaila­ble cricketers to play for their State teams.

“I think it’s a good thing. It should’ve happened a long time back, to be very honest. And I think it should apply to each and every cricketer today, not only to certain cricketers. Everybody should play domestic cricket,” he said at the launch of the JITO Premier League.

When referred to Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer having been mandated to play domestic cricket, he said: “I don’t think there’s any need for any warning to anybody. You take a decision and apply it to everybody. The BCCI must have strict rules and all that. This is the beginning. I think they should be even more strict in the future also and make sure that all Indian players participat­e and play. They (players) cannot decide for themselves and choose what they want to do. I think it should be to the BCCI and to the State (associatio­ns) to decide.”

On R. Ashwin having surpassed 500 wickets and playing his 100th Test for India, versus England at

Dharamshal­a, on Thursday, the 73yearold said: “He’s a fantastic cricketer, actually! I remember when I watched him for the first time — I was a consultant with Bengal Cricket. We were playing Tamil Nadu at Bangalore. It was the first time I watched him, and he showed his class straight away.

“I’m very pleased for Ashwin, with what he’s achieved. And I’m sure that in the future also, he will continue his performanc­e. Not only at home, he is a very fine bowler to be a part of the team overseas as well. I’m surprised at the number of times he’s not been included in the team. But these things happen in cricket. I’m sure he will keep going and keep performing.”

India's K. Srikanth progressed to the men's singles second round with a stunning win over Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen but H.S. Prannoy made an early exit from French Open Super 750 badminton in Paris on Wednesday. The World No. 24 Srikanth outwitted 14thranked Chen 2115, 2022, 218 in the opening round clash. In the next round, Srikanth will fight it out against China's World No. 17 Lu Guang Zu, who beat India's H.S. Prannoy 2117, 2117.

R. Praggnanan­dhaa failed to register a win from an advantageo­us position against D. Gukesh as their seventh round match ended in a draw in the Prague Masters Chess on Wednesday. Nodirbek Abdusattar­ov stayed ahead after defeating Vincent Keymer of Germany. Vidit Gujrathi lost to Parham Maghsoodlo­o

The results:

Round 7: Vincent Keymer (3) lost to Abdusattar­ov (5); D. Gukesh (3) drew with R. Praggnanan­dhaa

(4); Parham Maghsoodlo­o (4.5) bt Vidit Gujrathi (2); Richard Rapport (3.5) lost to Nguyen Thai Dai Van (4); Mateusz Bartel (2.5) drew with David Navara (3.5).

The contest between Calicut Heroes and Bengaluru Torpedoes in the third Prime Volleyball League lived up to its billing in Chennai on Wednesday.

After a cracker of a game, Bengaluru won 1416, 1917, 1315, 1510, 1511.

 ?? ?? New beginning: Amarnath at the launch of JITO Premier League.
New beginning: Amarnath at the launch of JITO Premier League.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India