Starc undergoes surgery after training mishap

SYDNEY
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has had an operation on his left leg after a freak training ground accident, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday. The 26-year-old hit his left shin on a piece of equipment during a training drill in Sydney and required 30 stitches. “Mitchell was taken to St George hospital in an ambulance this afternoon suffering a deep laceration to his left shin after colliding with some training equipment,” CA chief medical officer John Orchard said. “Fortunately there were no bone fractures or tendon damage to his leg and he underwent surgery this afternoon to clean the wound and received approximately 30 stitches.” 

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SYDNEY
Australia's Marsh, Faulkner out of South Africa tour

Batsman Shaun Marsh and all-rounder James Faulkner have been ruled out of Australia's limited-overs tour of South Africa, Cricket Australia said on Thursday. Marsh was replaced by Usman Khawaja for the tour that includes five One-day Internationals against the Proteas and one against Ireland, though Faulkner would not be replaced. 

New Delhi
Sania wants AITA to look into Venus issue      

As reports have emerged that the Rio Olympics silver medallist Venus Williams has allegedly been allowed to use prohibited substances under Therapeutic Use Exemptions, Sania Mirza has demanded that AITA takes up the matter with the appropriate authorities but the national body says it won't rush into the matter. Sania and Rohan Bopanna had lost their mixed doubles semifinals in the Rio Olympics to the American combo of Venus and Rajeev Ram, who ended up as silver medallists. According to sources, Sania's mother Naseema called up AITA life president and ITF vice president Anil Khanna on Thursday morning, asking him look into the matter. “She said that the Williams sisters have failed WADA dope test and we should take it up with IOA and IOC,” a source said. — Agencies

Sourabh, Rahul and Ritu in Round 2 of Belgian Open
Leuven
Shuttlers Sourabh Varma, Rahul Yadav and Rituparna Das advanced to the second round of the Belgian International Challenge after notching up straight-game wins. Rituparna defeated Germany’s Fabienne Deprez 21-18 22-20 in the opening round. Sourabh spanked England’s Luke Pearce 21-4 21-8 and Rahul Yadav Chittaboina beat Sweden’s Mikael Westerback 21-17 21-19 in the men’s singles. However, Anand Pawar suffered a 15-20 20-22 loss to the Netherlands’ Erik Meijs 21-15 22-20. Rasika Raje lost to Denmark’s Amalie Hertz Hansen 17-21 18-21. Arjun MR and Ramchandran Shlok defeated Belgium’s Guillaume Bonnet and Alexandre Lallemand 21-7 21-5, while Vighnesh Devlekar and Rohan Kapoor beat France’s Vanmael Heriau and Florent Riancho 21-14 21-19.

MONTREAL
Hackers release another batch of athlete data: WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency said that another batch of athlete data has been leaked by the same Russian cyber espionage group that published confidential medical data earlier this week. This time, WADA said the hackers released data of 25 athletes from the US, Germany, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Romania, and Russia. The hacking group, known as APT28 and Fancy Bear by US researchers, was also blamed by WADA on Tuesday for posting data about US athletes Simone Biles, Elena Delle Donne, and Serena and Venus Williams. “WADA is very mindful that this criminal attack, which to date has recklessly exposed personal data of 29 athletes, will be very distressing for the athletes that have been targeted; and cause apprehension for all athletes,” WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said. — Agencies