New Test stadium

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is building a new international cricket stadium in the island’s arid southern province, Sri Lanka Cricket said. The new stadium in Ranna village in the southern district of Hambantota will host international matches. Initial work on the stadium, 238 kilometers from Colombo, is due to be completed by the end of next year, Sri Lanka Cricket secretary K Mathivanan said. “We have not worked out the total costs yet,” he said, adding construction tenders had been called. Sri Lanka has six international cricket venues, including three in Colombo. — AFP

Maradona’s health

BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradona showed signs of marked improvement from an acute hepatitis condition blamed on alcohol abuse on the eighth day of his hospitalization on Thursday. Hector Pezzella, director of the private Guemes Sanatorium where Maradona was being treated, said the 47-year-old Argentine soccer great was in better spirits, but wouldn’t say when he expected him to be released. Maradona was being treated for health problems blamed on alcohol abuse, overeating and smoking. The 1986 World Cup hero was near death during hospitalizations in 2000 and 2004 blamed on cocaine addiction. — AP

Junior League

LALITPUR: All the three matches at the third Nepal Bank ‘A’ Division Junior (U-14) League Football ended in draws here on Friday. Tribhuvan Army Club and Machhindra Energizer Club played a 2-2 draw in the first game. Bikram Shrestha and Bikash Kunwar scored for Army after Bijay Karki and Som Thapa had scored for Machhindra. In the other match, Nirajan Maharjan scored the equaliser for Nabil Three Star after Silas Rai put Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club ahead in their 1-1 draw, while Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club and Sony RCT played a goalless draw. — HNS