Yasir gets 3-month ban for doping

dubai, february 7

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has been given a three-month ban after pleading guilty to an inadvertent doping offence, the International Cricket Council said.

The 29-year-old’s urine sample, provided in an in-competition test conducted on Nov. 13, was found to contain the presence of chlortalidone and he was subsequently provisionally suspended in December.

Chlortalidone is a diuretic drug which features in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances. Shah pleaded guilty to the charge and said he had mistakenly taken his wife’s blood pressure medication which contained the banned substance. — Reuters

England seal big win over South Africa

Port Elizabeth: England opener Alex Hales fell one short of a second ODI century as his team completed a comfortable five-wicket victory over South Africa. The hosts won the toss in the second game of the series and posted 262 for seven in their 50 overs on a slow wicket that produced nothing like the run-fest of Bloemfontein three days earlier. Hales took England close to their target with a patient 99 from 124 balls as they reached 263/5 from 46.2 overs. The touring side now lead the five-match series 2-0 with the third game in Pretoria on Tuesday. Brief scores: South Africa: 262/7 (de Villiers 73, R Topley 4/50); England: 263/5 (A Hales 99, J Buttler 48*). — Reuters