Reebok Ambassadors

KATHMANDU: Five Nepali cricketers have been named as brand ambassador of Reebok Nepal here on Monday. Sports Plaza Pvt Ltd, an authorized dealer of international sports wear Reebok in Nepal, named national cricket team captain Binod Das, Dipendra Chaudhary and Aamir Akhtar along with U-17 skipper Prithu Baskota and his teammate Sagar Pun as the brand ambassadors. The Sports Plaza Pvt Ltd director Pravat Sarraf said they will provide the players with cricket kits and garments for one year initially. “This is just a humble beginning in our effort to encourage the players,” said Sarraf. Das thanked Reebok for taking the initiative of encouraging the sportsperson. “I hope the affiliation between cricket and Reebok will continue for a long time,” said Das. — HNS

SL to play two Tests

Karachi: Sri Lanka will return to Pakistan next week to play two Tests as part of their split tour, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced today. The Islanders won a three-match one-day series 2-1 on the first leg of their tour last month. Sri Lanka replaced India, whose government refused permission for the team to tour over heightened political tension as a result of the attacks on Mumbai. Sri Lanka will arrive in Karachi on February 14 and play a two-day match in Karachi on February 17 and 18, the PCB announced. They play the first Test here from February 21, while the second Test starts in Lahore from March 1. The Karachi Test will be Pakistan’s first in 14 months. The team’s last Test was against India at Bangalore in December 2007. — AFP

Adams stands down

LONDON: Manager Tony Adams has left Portsmouth after the club took just two points from their last nine Premier League matches, the club said in a statement on Monday. Portsmouth are hovering one point above the relegation zone. Adams, a former England captain, won just four of his 22 matches in charge after being promoted from assistant manager when Harry Redknapp left to join Tottenham in October. — AFP