Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 4: Sania Mirza and Poojashree Venkatesha notched up straight-set wins as India blanked Singapore 3-0 in a Group A rubber to get off to a flying start in the Asia/Oceania Group II competition of the Fed Cup tennis tournament here on Thursday.

Mumbai, Feb. 4: Fast bowler Kamran Khan, who was last month called for chucking in the inaugural MCA Twenty20 Championship in Mumbai, has been given the green signal to participate in the third edition of the Indian Premier League. Kamran represents the Rajasthan Royals.

Mumbai, Feb. 4: The contenders for the McDowell Signature Indian Derby got down to serious business on Thursday as they hit the Mahalaxmi Race Course in preparation for Sunday’s big race.

Nagpur, Feb. 3: South Africans made the most of their drawn practice match against Board President’s XI with their top order looking in good nick even though Piyush Chawla and R. Ashwin proved that the Proteas can be vulnerable against spin here on Wednesday.

Hyderabad, Feb. 3: On a day when 14 wickets fell, it was South Zone that grabbed the initiative, taking a 191-run lead over West Zone in the Duleep Trophy final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.

Nagpur, Feb. 3: South Africa bowling coach Vincent Barnes contended that although the Indian tour is hectic, the players are a focussed lot.

New Delhi, Feb. 3: The Delhi Daredevils have been the most consistent franchise in the two editions of the Indian Premier League but are not satisfied after faltering in the semifinals over the last two years.

Hyderabad, Feb. 3: They are more than just siblings and can humble any opposition when on song. The Pathan brothers — Irfan and Yusuf — shone simultaneously for the West Zone at the ongoing Duleep Trophy final against South Zone even though West are in some strife.

London, Feb. 3: Former South Africa paceman Allan Donald has said he would welcome the chance to return to the role of England fast bowling coach following the departure of Ottis Gibson.

The Proteas are tourists who come to India without any hang-ups. They came first in the early ’90s as the ideal tourists who were prepared to look at the country with an open mind when they had just emerged from international isolation.