Malinga gets one-year ban, fined for media remarks

Colombo

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Lasith Malinga was suspended for one year after the fast bowler pleaded guilty to a breach of contract by speaking to the media without permission, Sri Lanka's cricket board said. The sanction is suspended for six months. Malinga will also be fined 50 percent of the match fee from his next ODI, after a disciplinary inquiry found him guilty of breaching his contract. 

Johannesburg

AB de Villiers expected to retire from Tests in August

AB de Villiers is expected to retire from Test cricket as early as August when he meets the officials of Cricket South Africa (CSA), unless the board can convince him to stay on again. It is understood to be contemplating retiring from Tests as he meets CSA about his decision of quitting the longest format, but was instead given a time of a year out of the game in a bid to get him to reconsider. However, the Proteas limited-overs skipper is understood to contemplating Test retirement when he meets CSA officials following the appointment of a new coach in August, in an attempt to continue playing white-ball cricket for South Africa until the 2019 World Cup. 

Dubai

Bumrah rises to second, Kohli top-ranked batsman in T20Is

Jasprit Bumrah has risen to second in the ICC T20I rankings while skipper Virat Kohli has retained the top spot in the batsmen’s list. There is no change in the top three of the all-rounders’ table. 

Taipei

Verma crashes out of Chinese Taipei Open

Sourabh Verma faced an early exit after being defeated by Malaysian Lee Zii Jia 19-21, 20-22 in the first round of the Chinese Taipei Open badminton tournament. Siril Verma, Abhishek Yelegar and Harshil Dani won their first round matches. 

Leicester

Sciver, Knight tons help England beat Pakistan 

England Women humbled Pakistan Women by 107 runs via D/L method in their ICC Women’s World Cup match. After posting 377/7 in 50 overs, England restricted Pakistan to 107/3 in 29.2 overs before rain brought a premature end to the game.

Brief scores: England: 377/7 (Natalie Sciver 137 (in pic),  Heather Knight 106); Pakistan: 107/3 (Ayesha 56*).

Sydney

Manny Pacquiao eyeing Mayweather rematch

A rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could be on the cards if the Filipino wins his bout against Australian Jeff Horn this weekend. Pacquiao, who was outpointed by Mayweather in the “Fight of the Century” two years ago, will be the strong favourite when he defends his world title against Horn. But the Horn fight could be critical to whether the “Pac-Man” secures another superfight with his American rival. —  Agencies