CRICKET
Abbas named ICC head
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas on Tuesday was named president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the next year at the annual conference of the sport’s world governing body in Barbados. Zaheer, 67, filled the vacancy in the largely honorary role left by Mustafa Kamal, who resigned with a blast at the organization in April after falling out with the council’s Indian chairman over who should hand out the World Cup trophy. Kamal, as the titular head of the council, expected to present the trophy, but chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan awarded it to the victorious Australia side. The Bangladeshi, who was criticized by the council for an outburst over a no-ball decision earlier in the tournament, said of the council: “These type of people should be kept away from cricket.” Zaheer — one of his country’s finest batsmen — who played 78 Tests and 62 one-day internationals from 1969 to 1985, is likely to prove a less controversial holder of the office. “I feel truly honored and humbled to be appointed as the president of the governing body of our great game,” he said in a news release.
BASKETBALL
Chinese official investigated
A vice president of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has been placed under investigation for possible corruption in China. The Chinese Communist Party’s disciplinary watchdog yesterday said on its Web site that Xiao Tian was suspected of serious graft. No details were given. Xiao is also vice minister of sport responsible for basketball, one of China’s most-popular sports alongside soccer. Xiao was elected one of FIBA’s three vice presidents in September last year. There was no immediate comment from the Switzerland-based body.
BASKETBALL
Portland trade players
French forward Nicolas Batum on Wednesday was traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Charlotte Hornets for NBA veteran guard Gerald Henderson and forward Noah Vonleh. The deal was announced on the eve of the NBA draft, where both clubs are to try and land the best available young talent entering the league from the international and college ranks. Batum started 428 of 481 appearances for the Trail Blazers, averaging 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3 assists in 30.8 minutes a night. His 751 career three-pointers rank third on Portland’s all-time list. “Nic Batum was a key contributor to all of our recent success,” said Neil Olshey, the Blazers’ president of basketball operations. “He will truly be missed as a person and a player. We wish Nic all the best for the future.” Vonleh, 19, was taken with the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft by Charlotte. He averaged 3.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 25 games for the Hornets last season. Henderson has career averages of 12 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists over six seasons with Charlotte.
BASKETBALL
Hawks purchase approved
Billionaire Tony Ressler’s purchase of the Atlanta Hawks has been unanimously approved by NBA owners, the league announced on Wednesday, concluding a sale forced by racial remarks in e-mails discovered last year. The sale comes after a 2012 e-mail written by former co-owner Bruce Levenson, which said in part that black fans were scaring away white supporters, was uncovered as part of a probe following comments by former general manager Danny Ferry, who resigned on Monday. Ressler’s group reportedly paid US$850 million for the Hawks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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