NTA to get assistance

KATHMANDU: World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) president Dr Chung Wan Cho made commitment to provide Rs 700,000 worth of taekwondo gears to Nepal. The WTF president made the commitment during a meeting with Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) general secretary Deep Raj Gurung in Seoul on Monday. Nepal’s South Korean coach Kwon Hyouk Joung was also present on the occasion, NTA said. — HNS

Serious Fun Cricket

LALITPUR: Bank of Kathmandu (BoK) beat World Bank by 112 runs and advanced to the semi-finals of the EBL Inter-bank Serious Fun Cricket Tournament, organised by Shangri-La Cricket Academy, here on Tuesday. Batting first, BoK amassed 149-6 in 15 overs before bowling out World Bank for 37in 7.4 overs. Also, Nabil Bank defeated Nepal Bangladesh Bank (NBB) by 60 runs. Nabil made 115 all out and bowled out NBB for 55 in nine overs. — HNS

BCCI issues warning

New Delhi: India’s cricket board warned on Wednesday that any players aligning with the unofficial Twenty20 league will be barred for life from top-grade matches. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement warning players — current and retired — that they would lose monetary benefits and the right to play in official tournaments if they aligned with Indian Cricket League (ICL). — AP

Paceman Akhtar fined

ISLAMABAD: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was fined $5,000 for leaving a cricket camp without informing the team management, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Wednesday. “We have not only fined him but we have also deducted 1.5 points off Akhtar under the recently introduced disciplinary clause,” PCB communications director, Ahsan Malik. The PCB introduced the disciplinary clause when it offered contracts to 20 players last month. Each player starts off with 20 points. Pakistan players are currently training in Karachi for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. — AP