SL include Dhananjaya in squad for Pakistan Tests under new captain
Colombo, Oct 13: Sri Lanka on Tuesday unveiled a 15-member squad for its upcoming ICC World Test Championship away series against Pakistan, marking Kusal Mendis’ first stint as captain in the longest format for which his predecessor Dhananjaya de Silva will continue to remain in the side. The 31-year-old Mendis, who already captains Sri Lanka’s T20 and ODI teams, replaced de Silva a few days ago. The 35-year-old De Silva stepped down from his position, stating that he wants to “pass the mantle to the next generation”. Batter Pathum Nissanka has also been included in the squad, pending a return to full fitness before the first Test. Nissanka has been laid low by a hamstring injury that he picked up during an ODI series against England last month. The team will travel to Pakistan for two Tests starting November 9, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore as part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Sri Lanka ranks seventh on the WTC points table with a points percentage (PCT) of 33.33, while Pakistan is at the bottom with a PCT of 4.63. (PTI)
Brisbane 2032 Olympics CEO to step down at end of 4-year contract
Brisbane, Oct 13: Cindy Hook is set to quit as CEO of the 2032 Olympics organising committee at the end of her four-year contract this year. Brisbane 2032 organisers announced Hook’s decision in a statement Tuesday, a week after the official emblems for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games were unveiled. “As CEO, I am proud to have built the organization from the ground up, set the Games Vision and Games Plan, designed and executed a clear strategy, created the brand narrative and launched incredible emblems, and driven early market momentum,” Hook said in the statement. Recruitment of a new CEO will begin immediately, Brisbane 2032 organisers said, adding that the timing would allow for a smooth transition from its planning and capability building phase into the next stages of operations, project and event delivery. Hook, a US executive who was based in Singapore as CEO of Deloitte Asia Pacific before taking the role with the Brisbane organising committee, was appointed in December 2022. (AP)
We’re ready for Sunday’s race: Delhi Half Marathon organisers
New Delhi, Oct 13: Organisers of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon said on Tuesday that they were ready with arrangements for Sunday’s race but were awaiting final clearance from the authorities amid security restrictions in the national capital due to protest calls from various organisations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Heavy security operations continued following protest calls by organisations pressing for Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Despite the prevailing situation, ProCam International, the organisers of the half marathon event, remained confident that the race, which will start and finish at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, would go ahead as planned on Sunday. “These are trying times, there is no question about that. But we are confident that things will go as planned,” Vivek Singh, joint managing director of ProCam International, said the sidelines of a philanthropy press meet for the marathon. “We are ready with everything – the route, all the arrangements and the planning. Now, of course, we have to wait for the final go-ahead from the authorities,” he added. (PTI)
Al-Nassr match in AFC Champions League delayed after security alert
RIYADH (Saudi Arabia), Oct 13: Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana was delayed by an hour Monday in Riyadh after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued a security alert. A sparse crowd at Al-Awwal Park remained in their seats as the teams waited to kick off. The Saudi-led coalition said it had twice intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles launched Monday by the Houthi rebels toward Riyadh. At least three explosions could be heard Monday night in the city. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence, which had warned residents through alerts sent to their phones, later said the danger had passed. Al-Nassr won the game 3-1. Angelo Gabriel put the home side ahead in the 33rd minute, and Ronaldo made it 2-0 three minutes before the break. Alisher Odilov pulled a goal back for the visitors before a 78th minute own goal sealed the Saudi team’s win. The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed a series of recent missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed at least 13 people and wounded over 300 over the weekend. (AP)