Shastri’s contract doesn’t have extension clause

New Delhi: Ravi Shastri remains favourite to continue as the Indian cricket team’s head coach after the World Cup but the BCCI will be forced to restart the process as the former India all-rounder’s service contract doesn’t have an extension or renewal clause. Unlike most of the big football or NBA clubs, who have a renewal or an extension clause for their coaches, the BCCI, from Anil Kumble’s time as chief coach, never had that particular clause. The BCCI needs to follow due process of putting up an advertisement on its website for filling up the various positions of support staff in the senior India line-up.

Chennai

SA pacer Lungi Ngidi out of IPL with side strain

Defending IPL champions Chennai Super Kings suffered a blow ahead of the season opener with South African paceman Lungi Ngidi being ruled out of the tournament due to a side strain suffered during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. CSK play the opener of IPL-12 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram stadium here on Saturday.

Chennai

Dhoni will bat at No. 4, says CSK coach Fleming

The Indian team management has slotted Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a potential No. 5 in their line-up moving into the World Cup but at Chennai Super Kings, their skipper will be batting a notch higher at No, 4, said coach Stephen Fleming. Dhoni, who will be leading the defending champions for the 10th year, would be used as a floater if required but Kedar Jadhav’s presence makes it easier to fix the slots. “Dhoni batted pretty much (at) No. 4 last year but we do use him in a little bit of a flexible role, so that won’t change,” Fleming said. 

New Delhi

Sardar among 13 named in OCA standing committees

A total of 13 Indian Olympic Association (IOA) members, including former India hockey captain Sardar Singh, have been named in various Standing Committees of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at its 38th General Assembly in Bangkok. Sardar has been elected in the athletes standing committee. 

Dhaka

Detained Bangladeshi FIFA official released from jail

A FIFA official detained for allegedly defaming the Bangladeshi Prime Minister has been freed, her lawyer said today, in a case closely watched by football’s governing body and rights groups. Mahfuza Akhter, a FIFA council member since 2017 and the national chief of women’s soccer, was arrested Saturday after a local football organiser accused her of making derogatory comments about PM Sheikh Hasina. Last month, Mahfuza criticised Hasina for neglecting football in the cricket-mad country. — Agencies