Bangladesh has postponed Pakistan’s cricket tour because of security concerns following last month’s mutiny at a military base in the capital, dealing a fresh blow to international sport in South Asia.
Bamgladeshi Sports Minister Ahad Ali Sarker said late on Tuesday that the government had put a hold on tours by foreign sports teams because all security resources were focused on a probe and manhunt after the revolt that left more than 70 dead.
The decision comes two weeks after the Sri Lankan national team were fired at by militants in Lahore, with seven players and an assistant coach injured and Pakistan knocked off the map as host of international sports events.
“We have had to suspend the tour for the time being because of security concerns,” Sarker said. “Our law enforcement agencies are at the moment hunting rebels wanted for last month’s mutiny in Dhaka, so it’s not possible for us to give fool-proof security to the Pakistani cricket team.”
The Pakistan team were originally scheduled to play two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals from March 10 to March 22. Bangladesh had been expected to set a March 28 date.
“Obviously the Pakistan cricket tour will take place as soon as we can ensure full security to the team,” Sarker said.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
MLB on Friday announced a formal investigation into the scandal swirling around Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter amid charges that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was the victim of “massive theft.” The Dodgers on Wednesday fired Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter and close friend, after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that the Japanese two-way star had been the victim of theft, which was reported to involve millions of dollars and link Mizuhara to a suspected illegal bookmaker in California. “Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB