UTT announces its eighth franchise

Former Australian Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has called time on the redball game, but will continue playing cricket’s shorter formats.

The 36yearold made the announcement late on Friday ahead of the Sheffield Shield final next week where his native Tasmania meets Western Australia in what will be his 166th and last First Class match.

“There certainly isn’t (an element of ) ‘I’m not playing well enough or I don’t feel I can contribute enough,’” he said.

“It’s that more the younger players have managed to shove me out of the door.”

Wade, who played 36 Test matches as both a wicketkeeper and special

Wade will continue to be available for one-day and

ist batter between 2012 and 2021, will continue to be available for oneday and T20 cricket.

Four centuries

He has 1,613 runs in Tests at an average of 29.87 with four centuries and five halfcenturies and a highest of 117 against England at the Oval in 2019.

Wade has 85 dismissals

— 74 caught stumpings.

“Not playing the longer format of the game will give me an opportunity to get stronger, get in the gym a bit more and have some longevity in that (shorter) format,” he said.

Wade has delayed his arrival at the Indian Premier League to play in the Shield final.

and

Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) on Saturday announced the addition of an eighth franchise, Ahmedabad SG Pipers, owned by SG Sports and Entertainment (SGSE) Pvt. Ltd.

SGSE is a strategic arm of the APL Apollo Group.

“We are delighted to welcome SGSE and the APL Apollo Group to the UTT family. UTT is committed to promoting the game of table tennis and this expansion marks an exciting chapter in the league’s growth as it will help us spread the game to a new region,” UTT copromoters Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani said in a joint statement.

With multiple tennis Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi as its CEO,

SGSE Pvt. Ltd. focuses on supporting and nurturing sports talent in the country.

Bhupathi excited

“UTT is the premier table tennis competition in the nation and they are able to showcase both homegrown and international talent at the elite level,” said Bhupathi.

“We at SGSE are excited that we have the opportunity to participate in the growth of the sport. I’m sure the presence of our team, Ahmedabad, will make the upcoming edition of the league more competitive and entertaining,” said Bhupathi.

Ahmedabad SG Pipers and Jaipur Patriots will make their debut in the fifth season of the league later this year.