India File

Former Indian spinner and coach of the Hyderabad team, Arshad Ayub, expressed surprise over reports on Javgal Srinath’s retirement from one-dayers, here on Monday.

"He is the best bowler available today and he has a lot of cricket left in him, " he said, adding unless there was anything personal he (Srinath) had to "think wise and come out openly." However, in an apparent reference to Kapil Dev, he said "It is ridiculous for someone to talk on behalf of any player. I being the Hyderabad coach will not talk negative about my player."

Inter-zonal handball

PONDICHERRY: The Inter-zonal Handball Championship for men and women will be held here from April 21 to 23.

Association secretary S Narayansami said that the champions and runners-up from all the four zones in both the men and women’s events, besides hosts Pondicherry would participate in the three day championship. The matches will be played under league- cum-knock out basis.

Calcutta to host Asian throwball

BANGALORE: The first Asian Throwball Championships will be held in Calcutta from August 19. According to a Throwball Federation of India (TFI) release here on Monday, the selection trials to pick the Indian team for the championship would be held at Hindupur (Andhra Pradesh) on may 27 and 28. The team will tour neighbouring countries like Nepal, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka before the Asian meet, the release said.

The calender of events for 2000-2001: Junior National championships at Patna (Bihar) from may 20 to 23, Senior National championships at Imphal (Manipur) from July 25 to 28 and Zonal championships: East Zone: Cuttack (Orissa) from June 7 to 9, West zone: Bombay (Maharashtra) from June 27 to 29, South zone: Bangalore (Karnataka) from June 22 to 24 and North zone: New Delhi 22 to 24 June.