Abhinav Bindra has been awarded with Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for his outstanding services to the Olympic Movement. The award ceremony will be held during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on Aug 10, a day before the closing of the Games. “It is with great pleasure that I inform you that the IOC executive board has decided to award you with the Olympic Order for your outstanding services to the Olympic movement,” the IOC wrote in a letter addressed to Bindra. The Olympic Order is the highest award of the IOC, given for distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement. It is awarded to recognize an individual who has illustrated the Olympic ideal, has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world or has rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause.
Suryakumar retains 2nd spot in T20I rankings
Suryakumar Yadav is the highest placed Indian at second spot while Yashasvi Jaiswal occupies the sixth position in the ICC T20I batting rankings. Ruturaj Gaikwad has dropped a place to the eighth position in the T20 batters’ list, which was updated following India’s recent 4-1 series triumph over Zimbabwe. Jaiswal was the big winner following his 141 runs in the series as he rose four places, behind No. 1 ranked batter Travis Head of Australia and Suryakumar. Shubman Gill, who led India against Zimbabwe moved up a whopping 36 places to 37th.
No Indian in the top-10 of the T20I bowlers rankings
Axar Patel, who was rested for the Zimbabwe series, dropped four places to 13th spot. Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar and spinner Washington Sundar also made upward movements. Mukesh, who scalped eight wickets, has gained 36 places to rise to 46th spot. Washington, who picked up eight wickets, has risen 21 spots to 73rd rank.
Bahutule to be India's bowling coach in Lanka
Former India and Mumbai leg-spinning all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule will travel to Sri Lanka as Team India’s bowling coach for the six-match white-ball series. Serving as a bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for the last three years, Bahutule has been a part of the support staff with the India A and the Indian teams with previous head coach Rahul Dravid and NCA chairman VVS Laxman. Bahutule, who played two Tests and eight ODIs for India has done good work with India’s young spinners, and his presence should particularly help the team’s spinners Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar, who are all part of the India T20 team, and Kuldeep Yadav, who will feature in the ODIs. He was also with the Indian team during the home series against Sri Lanka last year.
Flintoff’s son Rocky hits ton for England U-19s
Rocky Flintoff, the 16-year-old son of former England all-rounder Andrew, became the youngest player to hit a century for the England Under-19 side during a test match with Sri Lanka. Rocky was unbeaten on 82 overnight after Lanka posted 153 in the first innings and he brought up his century in the first session at the College Ground in Cheltenham. The middle order batter was dismissed soon after for 106 in a knock that included nine boundaries and two sixes. The 16-year-old signed his first pro contract with Lancashire last month.
