Rathour, Kanitkar for NCA batting consultant’s job

New Delhi

Ignored for India U-19 batting coach’s job due to the conflict of interest issue, former India batsman Vikram Rathour has now applied for the position of batting consultant at the Rahul Dravid-headed National Cricket Academy. Another prominent former international to have applied for the post is Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who has also won two Ranji Trophy titles with Rajasthan. It has been learnt that Rathour and Kanitkar are among the four applicants for the NCA coach’s job. The NCA batting coach’s job is to primarily work with the age-group boys and not the senior team members, who normally come to the Bengaluru centre only for rehabilitation. 

Colombo
Malinga to quit ODIs after first Bangladesh match

Veteran Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga will retire from One-day international cricket after the first match of a three-match series against Bangladesh, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said. Malinga was named in the 22-man Sri Lanka squad for the series with matches scheduled for July 26, 28 and 31 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. But speaking at the team’s press conference in the Sri Lankan capital, Karunaratne confirmed the 36-year old fast bowler and former captain would only appear in the first game. “He is going to play the first match. After that he is retiring. That’s what he said to me. I don’t know what he said for the selectors but for me he said he is playing only one match,” said Karunaratne. Malinga, 35, will leave as Sri Lanka’s third highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket with 335 wickets in 219 innings so far. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (523) and Chaminda Vaas (399) have taken more wickets than Malinga in ODIs for Sri Lanka.

Hyderabad
Haryana Steelers beat Puneri Paltan 34-24 in PKL

Haryana Steelers began their campaign in the Pro Kabaddi Season 7 with an emphatic 34-24 win over Puneri Paltan. Aided by excellent performance from Naveen, who ended up with 14 points, the Steelers came out top of their rivals. Pawan Kadian got a super 10 for Puneri Paltan but his effort went in vain. In another tie, Jaipur Pink Panthers thrashed U Mumba 42-23. Jaipur skipper Deepak Hooda led from the front with 11 points while Nitin Rawal and Deepak Narwal also collected 7 and 6 raid points, respectively. U Mumba skipper Fazel Atrachali looked completely out of touch as he could manage just a couple of points. — Agencies