Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 43

Rising star Vondrousova

PRAGUE: Czech teen sensation Marketa Vondrousova plans for the season after earning a spot in Grand Slam Vondrousova said she had suffered when she saw was being hailed as a rising star in the mould of tennis qualifying. “I played my first Grand Slam as a junior in her peers reaching the top 200, while she was sidelined. great Martina Navratilova after climbing 119 places in Paris and made it to the semi-finals (in 2014), so I’m “I was ahead of them as a junior, and now they were up the WTA rankings in just two weeks. Ranked 233rd, looking forward to that-but I’m looking forward to there. “So I started each game telling myself I want to Vondrousova won her maiden WTA title at the Wimbledon too, and to all of them.” win, I was focused, and that’s the reason why I’m doing Biel/Bienne Open on April 16, rising to the top from well now.” “I have found out I can play against anyone,” qualifying. A week later, she managed her Fed Cup The new Navratilova said Vondrousova, who beat 17th-ranked compatriot debut in the Czech Republic’s defeat at the hands of the Vondrousova has an impressive record of 41 wins Barbora Strycova on her way to the Biel triumph. Born United States, losing to 23rd-ranked Coco Vandeweghe and five losses this year, following an eight-month on June 28, 1999, Vondrousova started playing tennis and beating world number 35 Lauren Davis. break from tennis due to an elbow injury. “She realized at four in her western Czech hometown of Sokolov, “It’s all terribly quick now,” the 17-year-old world how much she missed tennis and her will to win before moving to Prague at 10. Home is still the favorite number 114 told reporters in Prague on Thursday, increased,” said Zdenek Kubik, who coaches her place to relax for the secondary school student who ahead of her next tournament starting in the Czech together with Czech tennis legend Jiri Hrebec. “That combined tennis with floorball, football and athletics as capital on May 1. “I guess I still haven’t realised what was the biggest motivation for her to start playing and a child. Family support is essential, she insists. “The I’ve achieved.” The left-handed teenager-former world her results immediately started to reflect that-it was entire family talks about tennis, I think they’re quite number one in the junior class-has had to review her something that she really wanted.” excited, mum especially,” she said. — AFP

Pakistan postpones tour of

KARACHI: Pakistan’s chief said yesterday that a sched- uled visit to Bangladesh this summer has been postponed for at least a year after the Bangladeshis refused to reciprocate the tour because of security fears. Pakistan was due to play two Tests, three one-day internationals and a match in Bangladesh in July and August. But the militancy-wracked coun- try has been forced to host most of its matches overseas after an attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, barring a limited over series against Zimbabwe in 2015. Security has improved over the past two years and some for- eign players have tentatively endorsed returning. But cricket chief Shaharyar Khan said Bangladesh had turned down the invi- tation. He told AFP he had spoken to Bangladesh cricket board representatives on the sidelines of an International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai, and “decided to postpone the series for one or two years”. “But we will definitely play them,” Khan added. “We toured Bangladesh in 2012 and 2015 without Bangladesh reciprocating so we hope they will discuss further and find a solution,” he said. When Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in 2015 they demanded a share of the revenue, and were reportedly paid $325,000 by the hosts. Since the suspension of international cricket Pakistan have been forced to play all their home series in the neutral ven- ues of the United Arab Emirates. But the successful staging of MUMBAI: This file photo taken on December 11, 2015 shows International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive David the Pakistan Super League in Lahore in March has boosted long- Richardson (L) holding the women’s trophy, ICC Chairman and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President held hopes of bringing the sport home to the cricket-obsessed Shashank Manohar (C) and BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur hold the men’s trophy as they pose during an event ahead of nation. The sees a World XI tour of the the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 tournament. — AFP country in September for a short Twenty20 series as another positive step. “Some progress has also been made on the World XI tour and we hope that that tour will further help us in reviving international cricket in Pakistan,” said Khan. — AFP ICC approves rollback Black Cap Bracewell in drink-drive guilty plea of ‘Big Three’ decision

WELLINGTON: New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell MUMBAI: The International Cricket The ICC said the England and Wales the future through the adoption of the pleaded guilty to drink-driving yesterday, admitting he was Council’s (ICC) board has voted to pass a Cricket Board would be the second- revised financial model and governance “deeply embarrassed” over the latest alcohol-fuelled inci- new financial model that will reverse a best earners with $143 million, structure.” dent to mar his career. The 26-year-old conceded he was 2014 decision which effectively put Zimbabwe would receive $94 million India, meanwhile, have yet to submit more than three times over the legal limit when police India, England and Australia in control of while the remaining seven full mem- their squad for the upcoming pulled him over in Hastings last month. the game’s finances and administration. bers would get $132 million each in the Champions Trophy. The BCCI failed to “I made a massive mistake by driving that evening and Under the new financial model and gov- new model. A revised constitution, deliver the squad info by the Tuesday apologize unreservedly for my actions,” he said in a state- ernance structure, the split of revenues which will allow the ICC to include midnight deadline and has not ruled out ment after pleading guilty in court. “This was no one’s fault from the ICC for the years 2016 to 2023 additional full members in the future, boycotting the tournament altogether. but my own... I’m deeply embarrassed to have let down so will be altered to address the imbalance was also approved by 12 votes to two. The ICC board members were also many people-be they family, friends, or cricket-lovers.” currently favoring the three boards. The decisions would have to be ratified briefed on the security situation in Bracewell is yet to be sentenced and The measure was passed by 13 votes at the ICC’s annual conference in June. Pakistan following the visit of the ICC (NZC) said in a statement that he would be dealt with under to one, the governing body said in a ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar, who delegation to the final of the country’s special provisions for those who have at least two previous statement on Thursday after its meet- has been critical of the ‘Big Three’ mod- Twenty20 league in March in Lahore. drink-drive convictions. NZC chief David White said it was ings at its headquarters in Dubai. The el, welcomed the vote. “The feasibility of further matches in premature to discuss whether the organization would Indian cricket board (BCCI), according Pakistan involving a World XI is now impose its own punishment until Bracewell had been sen- to local media, was the only one to Step forward being considered from a security and tenced by the courts. But he said NZC “take a very dim oppose the new financial model, which “This is another step forward for budget perspective,” the ICC said in a view” of drink-driving. Bracewell was suspended for one would see their revenue share cut by world cricket and I look forward to con- statement. Pakistan has been forced to Test in 2014 after going on a drinking spree with batsman almost half. Based on current forecasts cluding the work at the Annual play most of its “home” games in the Jesse Ryder, during which he broke a bone in his foot. In for revenues and costs, the BCCI would Conference,” former BCCI chief Manohar, United Arab Emirates after gunmen fired 2012, he missed the Test series against England after cut- now receive $293 million across the who will step down in June due to per- on a bus carrying Sri Lanka’s cricket team ting a foot when he stood on broken glass while cleaning eight-year cycle, down from the $570 sonal reasons, said. “I am confident we in 2009 with rifles, grenades and rockets, up after a party at his house. — AFP million it would have received under can provide a strong foundation for the wounding six players and a British coach, the 2014 arrangement. sport to grow and improve globally in and killing eight Pakistanis. — Reuters