■CRICKET
Ashraful back for tour
Bangladesh have recalled former captain Mohammad Ashraful for a two-Test series in England starting later this month. The 25-year-old batsman was dropped from the home Test series against England in March. Ashraful has so far scored 2,256 runs in 53 Tests with five hundreds and seven half-centuries. Fast bowler Robiul Islam is the only newcomer in a 15-man squad to be led by all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. The 23-year-old Robiul has bagged 102 wickets in 30 first-class matches. “Robiul brings in a lot of energy and has brisk pace,” chief selector Rafiqul Alam said. “He is strong and aggressive and we feel he can be a handy option in English conditions.”
■RUGBY UNION
Catt announces retirement
England and London Irish star Mike Catt has revealed he will retire after Saturday’s Premiership clash against Northampton. Catt, who helped England win the World Cup in 2003, has opted to hang up his boots in order to focus on his coaching career with the Exiles. The 38-year-old won 75 England caps, played in the 2003 and 2007 World Cup finals and also featured for the British and Irish Lions. “I’ve been fortunate to have had an enjoyable and successful career as a player at club and international level,” Catt said. “London Irish has given me the opportunity to make the transition from playing to coaching, and the time is right for me to focus full-time on that role. I hope to help the club maintain the progress it has made in recent seasons.” Catt, who was born in South Africa, made his England debut in 1994.
■CYCLING
Pellizotti banned from Giro
Franco Pellizotti was banned from the Giro d’Italia on Monday because his irregular blood levels suggested he resorted to doping. Italian cycling federation president Renato Di Rocco said Pellizotti — a climbing specialist who won the King of the Mountains’ polka dot jersey at last year’s Tour de France — failed the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) biological passport program. Pellizotti was one of three riders named by the UCI on Monday as having suspicious blood profiles in the pioneering program to catch drug cheats. The others are Tadej Valjavec from Slovenia and Spain’s Jesus Rosendo. Pellizotti was expected to be a strong contender in the this year’s Giro, which starts on Saturday. The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the 32-year-old rider’s case related to a drug test just before last year’s Tour de France. More than 850 riders have given a series of blood and urine samples allowing laboratories to create individual body chemistry profiles. Researchers can then detect the effects of doping rather than test for each banned drug. Suspicious profiles are presented to a panel of independent experts who advise the UCI if the evidence is strong enough to pursue a case.
■TENNIS
Karlovic wins in Belgrade
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia and Russia’s Igor Andreev were straight-sets winners of first-round matches at the Serbia Open on Monday. The fifth-seeded Karlovic was given a tough match by Serbian wild card Dusan Lajovic but edged through 7-6 (4), 6-4. Karlovic grabbed the key break in the second set in the ninth game and then served out for the match. Andreev eased past Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic, 6-3, 6-2. Sixth-seeded Serbian Viktor Troicki defeated Spain’s Ivan Navarro 6-4, 6-0. The tournament is organized by the family of second-ranked Novak Djokovic. “This tournament means a lot to me because I play in my native country, my hometown,” he said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping