WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 SPORTS Relationship with Root will be absolutely fine, says Cook LONDON: Alastair Cook is confident his The 32-year-old stepped down in transition back to just playing for the team in 140 tests. With the emergence of a pair “You’re always under pressure, that’s relationship with newly appointed test cap- February after a 4-0 defeat in the five-test would be smooth. of batting prospects in India for what life is about,” Cook said. “That is what tain Joe Root will be “absolutely fine” and series in India at the end of last year. He was “I feel like I can get back in the troops England’s fragile top order, Cook hoped playing international cricket or being a the former England skipper has assured his replaced by Root, who will captain England and get on with it and hopefully score he could continue making an impact professional sportsman is. You’re there to successor he will get all the support he for the first time against South Africa at some runs and help England win cricket with the willow. score runs. needs in the role. Lord’s on July 6. games, which ultimately is what everyone Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings “If you don’t do that over a period of Cook, who was appointed captain in “A lot will be made of it, there always is, wants to see,” he added. became Cook’s 10th and 11th opening time, people will look elsewhere. That hasn’t 2012, led England in a record 59 tests it’s a good story to write about but I think The left-handed opening batsman has partners since the retirement of Andrew changed and that’ll never change, whether including Ashes victories at home in 2013 it’ll be absolutely fine in terms of our rela- scored more test centuries than any of Strauss, with both youngsters showing it’s myself or Jimmy Anderson, you’ve got to and 2015 as well as series wins in India and tionship,” Cook told British media. his predecessors and is also England’s signs they might have bright futures after play to a certain level to be picked for South Africa. The former captain said he hoped his most prolific run-getter with 11,057 runs impressive debuts in India. England or even Essex.” —Reuters NZ’s ‘Two-Metre Peter’ retires after 16-yr career WELLINGTON: Former New Zealand He was recalled in early 2013 as an batsman Peter Fulton retired yesterday opening batsman against England and after a 16-year first-class career that was became the fourth New Zealander to highlighted by two stints in the interna- score a century in both innings of a test tional arena. when he scored 136 and 110 against the The towering 38-year-old, nicknamed tourists at Eden Park in Auckland. ‘Two-Metre Peter’, made his first class “When I was growing up I had dreams debut in the 2000/01 domestic season of playing for Canterbury and New and played 121 times for Canterbury, 66 Zealand, but when I was younger I didn’t of which were as captain. think I was going to do it,” Fulton said in Fulton made his international debut in announcing his decision. a one-dayer in 2004 against Bangladesh “From making my debut, I never would and had a roller-coaster ride for New have thought I would play this many Zealand, making the test side in 2006 as a times and achieve these records for middle-order batsmen and accumulating Canterbury. just 10 appearances in nearly four years “At that stage, I was just stoked to play before dropping out of contention. one.” —Reuters BANGALORE: In this photograph taken on May 29, 2016, Indian Premier League Chairman Rajeev Shukla (L) presents an award to Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner (2R) during the presentation ceremony after the Twenty20 cricket final between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad at The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The tenth season of the Indian Premier League kicks off today, marking a decade of scandal and success for the flashy Twenty20 competition beloved by India and watched across the globe. —AFP Cash-rich IPL marches into season 10 today NEW DELHI: The 10th season of the Indian while, is in self-imposed exile in Britain, Singh Dhoni at the helm of Pune, said he Premier League starts today, marking a refusing to return to India to face corrup- had benefited immensely from playing in decade of scandal and success for the flashy tion charges. the league. Twenty20 competition beloved by India and “You get to learn different parts of the Peter Fulton watched across the globe. GLOBAL APPEAL game, and what people from different parts The latest edition of the glitzy league- Shukla acknowledged the league’s mud- of the world are thinking,” he said. famous for its pyrotechnics, cheerleaders and dy past but said all possible checks and bal- huge signing bonuses-gets under way with ances were in place to ensure the 10th edi- CASH TALKS Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad tion was a success. But cash, and plenty of it, has been the hosting Royal Challengers Bangalore. “There may have been some aberrations single most important ingredient for the quits Twenty20 cricket Since its debut in 2008 the shorter-format but the strongest possible action was taken. IPL’s success, experts say. “Money is the mag- league has evolved into India’s most popular We have ensured that corruption does not net,” ESPNcricinfo senior editor Sharda Ugra COLOMBO: Bangladesh’s limited-overs mat, and has been an integral part of sporting event, filling stadiums and attracting creep in,” he said. “I am quite optimistic that told AFP. captain Mashrafe Mortaza announced the side ever since. TV audiences well beyond that enjoyed by this edition will be another grand success and “I think IPL was always going to succeed... yesterday his retirement from Twenty20 Beloved by fans, the 33-year-old Test and one-day competitions in the cricket- be very significant for us.” because so many people directly connected international cricket after he completes played 52 Twenty20 internationals to mad subcontinent. Despite a litany of off-field troubles the with the BCCI (India’s cricket board) and the ongoing two-match series against claim 39 wickets and score 368 runs. He “Its unique selling proposition is that most league has never struggled to attract foreign Indian business were involved at that time. Sri Lanka. led Bangladesh in 27 of his 52 Twenty20 Mashrafe’s decision came just before internationals and won nine matches. of the stadiums are packed, and it is being talent. A host of international stars have They were like determined to see it succeed.” the first match of the series against the But he was hobbled by knee watched around the world,” IPL chairman become household names in India, shaping Signing deals for up-and-coming stars are home side in Colombo’s R. Premadasa injuries during much of his career, Rajeev Shukla told AFP. their careers on the IPL stage or resurrecting also growing, with Afghanistan leg-spinner Stadium. “It has been a great honour for forcing him to avoid Test cricket since Its appeal has outlasted numerous con- former glories. Rashid Khan signed by Sunrisers for 40 mil- me to represent Bangladesh in T20I for 2009 and to undergo a series of opera- troversies-most notably corruption and England pace bowler Tymal Mills recently lion rupees ($615,700) — the most ever more than 10 years,” Mashrafe said on his tions in Australia. match-fixing charges-that at times have signed a $1.8 million-contract with offered to a player from an associate (non- official Facebook page. Bangladesh selectors welcomed his raised more eyebrows than the showy the- Bangalore-despite having played just four Test playing) nation. “I believe that this team is currently a decision to retire from Twenty20 interna- atrics on the pitch. T20 internationals. Khan and teammate Mohammad Nabi will balanced one and there are some prom- tional cricket. “Mashrafe is a true legend Three of the eight teams from the inaugu- Fellow countryman Ben Stokes-who be the first players from Afghanistan to play in ising young stars. “This is high time for of our game and he has made the right ral edition, and two others since, have been joined Rising Pune Supergiant for more than the IPL, highlighting the league’s ever- me to say good-bye to T20 format so that decision,” Bangladesh’s chief selector taken over by new owners, suspended or sim- $2 million-said the IPL was an opportunity expanding global appeal. many youngsters can get the opportuni- Minhajul Abedin told AFP by phone. ply vanished altogether. unavailable in England, where the format is While Royal Challengers Bangalore captain ty to showcase their talent”, he said. He will now play his final Twenty20 Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals not yet franchised. and run-machine Virat Kohli will be absent for Mashrafe made his Twenty20 inter- international against Sri Lanka on April 6 were barred for two seasons in 2015 over a “A big reason for coming out here is to get the opening week of the competition, big hit- national debut against Zimbabwe in in Colombo. He is expected to continue spot-fixing saga, while Hyderabad’s original that exposure and try and take the Twenty20 ters abound such as Kohli’s teammate Chris 2006, the first ever game played by the to lead Bngladesh in one-day interna- franchise Deccan Chargers were terminated game to new level,” he said.