Ganguly stable after heart surgery

KOLKATA: Indian cricket legend Sourav Ganguly was rushed to hospital on Saturday where he underwent a heart operation, doctors said.

The 48-year-old, who now heads the country’s cricket board, suffered a heart attack while exercising at his personal gym in the morning and was immediately taken to Woodlands hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.

“Sourav Ganguly has undergone an angioplasty and he is completely stable now,” doctor Saroj Mandal told reporters outside the hospital, where crowds had gathered after hearing the news about their beloved former captain.

A medical team comprising five doctors has been set up to monitor his condition.

Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said he had spoken to Ganguly’s family, and he was stable and “responding well to the treatment”.

In 2019, Ganguly was unanimously elected president of the BCCI, the sport’s most powerful body.

After a successful playing career during which he captained his country’s team, Ganguly was instrumental in organising the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates last year.

The left-handed opener retired from Test cricket in 2008 having accumulated 7,212 runs including 16 centuries — his first made at Lord’s on debut. He also scored 11,363 runs in 311 One-day Internationals.

Ganguly — popularly referred to as Dada, which means ’elder brother’ in Bengali — enjoys massive popularity in the cricket-crazy nation and the news of his hospitalisation was the top trending news on Twitter.

Ajinkya Rahane, who is currently the national side’s stand-in captain, tweeted: “Wishing you a speedy recovery Dada, @SGanguly99. Praying that you get well soon.”

“My thoughts are with his family and fans at this hour. Hope to see him back soon,” India coach Ravi Shastri posted on Twitter.—AFP

Omar grabs one-shot lead at National Amateurs

KARACHI: Omar Khalid continues to impress. The 16-year-old seized the outright lead at the National Amateur Golf Championship here at the Karachi Golf Club with a third-round 74 on Saturday that handed him a one-stroke lead over the chasing pack.

That gave Omar, who hit three birdies, a three-day aggregate of 222 and managing to win the title on Sunday would further embellish his growing reputation as one of the most promising young golfer in the country.

In order to do that, he will have to hold off the challenge of Umer Khokhar, the country’s top amateur golfer, who also shot a 74 to go into a tie for second place with Ralfay Raja (72).

Salman Khan, who was tied with Omar atop the leaderboard after the second round, fell off the pace by four shots after he could only manage a 78.

A trio of golfers are another shot adrift at 227: Omar Shikoh Khan (72), Saim Shazli (73) and Salman Jahangir (75).

Mansoor Teli’s 79 saw him end the day at 228 with Qasim Ali Khan (73) on 229. Rounding off the top ten was Mohsin Zafar (74) at 230.

In the senior amateurs’ contest, overnight leader Col Rushan Ali Chatha remains in the lead after the second round after he shot a 79 to move to 153.

Heading into Sunday’s final round, he holds a two-shot lead over Mohammad Ali (72) with Azhar Abbas (78) a further stroke adrift.

Col Rustam’s effort saw Punjab Golf Association win the inter-association team match as they edged out the Balochistan Golf Association by three strokes.—Sports Reporter

Commissioner Cup from 8th

KARACHI: The fourth Commissioner Cup basketball tournament will commence from Jan 8 at the Arambagh-Abdul Nasir court, the KBBA announced on Saturday.

The draws for the tournament will be taken out on Jan 6.

Commissioner Karachi Naved Ahmed Shaikh said it will be a grand event and assured all full support for the tournament in a meeting with the KBBA delegation led by Ghulam Mohammad Khan and included Akhtar Hashmi and Nadeem Ahmed as members.

The commissioner added that basketball is a popular game worldwide, adding it is great to see how KBBA is promoting the game in Karachi.

Commissioner Naved agreed to grace the tournament final on Jan 17 as chief guest.

The KBBA delegates informed the commissioner that the draws will be taken out in the presence of assistant commissioner Arambagh Imran Nazeer Sheikh.

An organising committee for the tournament has been named headed by Secretary Tariq Hussain, Asif Azeem and other officials.

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 3rd, 2021