Wrestler Bajrang regains world No. 1 spot

New Delhi
Bajrang Punia regained the world No. 1 spot in the men’s 65kg freestyle category in the rankings issued by United World Wrestling today. The 25-year-old, who won gold in the Asian and Commonwealth Games and silver in the World Championships last year, secured 58 ranking points. Akhmed Chakaev of Russia is second with 21 points.

New Delhi
Kunal, Nitin take HSCA into quarterfinals

A blistering knock by Delhi’s Ranji batsman Kunal Chandela (89) and a deadly spell by Services Ranji player Nitin Tanwar (4/18) helped Hari Singh Cricket Academy beat Food Corporation of India by 68 runs and enter the quarterfinals of the 29th All India JBR Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament.

Brief scores: HSCA: 210/7 in 20 overs (Kunal Chandela 89, Yogesh Sharma 2/21, Siddesh Kinlekar 2/38); FCI: 142 all out in 19.3 overs (Paras Dogra 40, Nitin Saini 40; Nitin Tanwar 4/18 Abhishek Sakuja 3/23)

London
Archer given chance to stake World Cup claim

England chief selector Ed Smith is confident the call-up of uncapped all-rounder Jofra Archer will have no adverse effect on team morale in the run-up to the World Cup. Archer was included today in a 17-man squad for next month’s ODIs against Ireland and Pakistan. The dynamic Barbados-born Archer was left out of the 15-man preliminary World Cup squad also announced today. 

London
Bancroft hits 151 on Durham One-day debut

Cameron Bancroft hit an unbeaten 151 on his One-day debut for Durham as the disgraced Australia batsman started to repay the English county’s faith in him. Bancroft was banned for nine months after being caught in the Australia ball-tampering scandal during their South Africa tour last year. 

Colombo
Karunaratne to lead Sri Lanka at World Cup 

Veteran pacer Lasith Malinga was today replaced by Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne as the ODI skipper for the World Cup. The 31-year-old Karunaratne has only featured in 17 ODIs and averages 15.83. Malinga had captained the team during the 5-0 loss to South Africa in the ODI series. He had personal disagreements with the team management and certain senior players, which also soured his stint as captain. — Agencies