‘ICC persuading govts to make fixing criminal offence’

New Delhi

The International Cricket Council is constantly persuading governments, including India's, to make fixing a criminal offence, said its CEO Dave Richardson on Wednesday in the wake of “serious” corruption allegations that hit the sport in Sri Lanka. Three Sri Lankan cricketers including Sanath Jayasuriya and Nuwan Zoysa have been charged recently under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.  “Most of our efforts now are on disrupting the criminals and this means persuading governments to introduce legislation that can make attempts to fix cricket matches a criminal offence, so that those types of people are put behind bars,” said Richardson.    

Geneva

Afghan football chief banned pending sex abuse probe     

FIFA on Wednesday suspended Afghanistan Football Federation president Keramuddin Karim for 90 days pending an investigation into the allegations of sexual and physical abuse against the national women's team. FIFA's independent ethics committee said in a statement that the provisional ban “may be extended pending proceedings on the merits of the case”. Karim is barred from all football-related activities at both the national and international level, the statement said. 

Jamshedpur

Cahill, Choudhary fire Jamshedpur into top-four    

Jamshedpur FC brought their campaign back on track with an excellent 2-1 comeback win against Delhi Dynamos to keep their play-off hopes alive in the Indian Super League here on Wednesday.  Lallianzuala Chhangte opened the scoring in the 24th minute but Tim Cahill restored parity in the 29th minute with a trademark header. Jamshedpur completed the comeback after the break with a 61st minute match-winner from Farukh Choudhary. After this win, Jamshedpur are back in the top-four with 19 points, while Delhi are languishing at the bottom following their fourth successive loss. 

New delhi

Manika first Indian to win Breakthrough Star award       

India's Manika Batra on Wednesday became the first Indian table tennis player to be decorated with the 'Breakthrough Table Tennis Star' award at the prestigious International Table Tennis Federation Star Awards in Incheon. — Agencies