Korean Grand Prix 2013 schedule and timetable announced

he Korean Grand Prix 2013 is one of an important event of Formula One calender. Korea hosted the Formula One event for the first time in Oct 2010. This is the 4th edition of the event.

The practice session of Korean Grand Prix 2013 will start from 3rd Oct. The final race of the event is scheduled for 6th Oct.

FORMULA 1 KOREAN GRAND PRIX 2013 Schedule (Tokyo Standard Time)

Thursday 3rd October

• Formula One Press Conference – Press Room 15:00

Friday 4th October

• Formula One Practice 1 10:00 – 11:30
• Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 12:35 – 13:30
• Formula One Practice 2 14:00 – 15:30
• Formula One Press Conference – Press Room 16:00 – 17:00

Saturday 5th October

• Formula One Pit Stop Practice 09:00 – 09:40
• Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 09:00 – 10:45
• Formula One Practice 3 11:00 – 12:00
• Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 12:05 – 13:30
• Formula One Qualifying 14:00
• Promoter Activity Autograph Session – F1 Drivers 16:30 – 18:00

Sunday 6th October

• Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 11:00 – 14:00
• Formula One Drivers Track Parade 13:30
• Formula One Starting Grid Presentation 13:45 – 14:15
• Formula One National Anthem 14:46
• Formula One Race 15:00

Note – please be advised that this timetable is subject to change

A sneak peak into Korean Grand Prix 2013

• Race Date: 06 Oct 2013
• Circuit Name: Korea International Circuit
• First Grand Prix: 2010
• Number of Laps: 55
• Circuit Length: 5.615 km
• Race Distance: 308.630 km
• Lap Record: 1:39.605 – S Vettel (2011)

New Zealander Isaac takes over as ICC chief

Kuala Lumpur: New Zealander Alan Isaac took over as the eighth president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday on a two-year term before the post becomes titular.

The former New Zealand Cricket chairman succeeded India's Sharad Pawar at the ICC Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur, where former South Africa wicket-keeper David Richardson was confirmed as the new ICC chief executive at the end of compatriot Haroon Lorgat's four-year term.

"I believe that the challenges ahead are no less daunting than those we have faced in the last two years if we are to maintain the vibrancy and viability of the three formats of the sport," Isaac said in a statement.

"I look forward to serving the game with honesty and integrity and to the best of my ability. I look forward to handing on the guardianship of the sport with the game enjoying even greater health," he added.

Isaac takes over at a time when the ICC is perceived as too susceptible to the financial might of the Indian cricket board.

The governing body's failure to mandate the use of the Decision Review System earlier this week is cited as yet another instance of its helplessness against the Indian board, which has been steadfast in its opposition to the technology.

In the annual conference, the ICC agreed to create the post of an ICC Chairman, who would call the shots, remove the role of ICC vice-president and make the president's role "ceremonial in nature with a term of only one year."

The ICC board will select a chairman in 2014 with a two-year term. 

India Inc. buys all franchises in Sri Lankan T20 league

The India Inc. will own all the seven franchises in the Sri Lankan Premier League (SPL), ignoring the decision of the Indian cricket board not to allow its players to take part in the island's Twenty20 tournament.

The Indian business houses have outbid all others to sweep all the franchises on offer for the league to be played August 10-31. The matches will be played in Colombo and Pallekele.

Wadhawan Holdings bought Wayamba for the highest bid of $5.02 million while Number One Sports Consulting got Kandurata for $4.98 million.

The Uva and Ruhuna went to Success Sports and Pearl Overseas for $4.6 million. Indian Cricket Dundee bought Basnahira for $4.33 million while Uthura went to Rudra Sports for $3.4 million. Varun Beverages bought Nagenahira for $3.22 million.

Each franchisee will be allowed a maximum of 18 players, including six foreign cricketers. But a team is allowed to play only two foreigners in the playing eleven. The players' draft will be held July 5-6.

India maul Sri Lanka in Junior Women's Asia Cup

Skipper Ritu Rani led form the front with a hat-trick as India spanked Singapore 9-0 for their second successive Group A win in the sixth Women's Junior Asia Cup Hockey Championship in Bangkok.

Vice-captain Poonam Rani also scored three goals as the team followed up its 15-0 win against Sri Lanka [ Images ].

Vandana Katariya scored off a sixth-minute penalty corner to open the scoring.

Seven minutes later, fellow forward Anupa Barla increased the lead with a field goal. Poonam scored off a penalty corner in the 22nd minute while Lily Chanu Mayengam added a field goal just before the break to ensure that India held a 4-0 lead.

Poonam pumped in two field goals within 10 minutes of resumption while captain Ritu Rani scored a hat-trick off penalty corners in an 11-minute span from the 57th minute in a match in which India enjoyed 95 per cent ball possession.

Though Singapore packed their defence, India scored frequently, converting six of the 15 penalty corners they forced.

In another Group A match, China beat Sri Lanka 21-0 while Korea defeated Pakistan 19-0 in a Group B game.

India will play against China on Monday before taking on Malaysia in their final league game the following day.

PCB retrenchment drive to cut expenses

LAHORE: In a bid to reduce its administrative expenses, the Pakistan Cricket Board has issued termination notices to 18 of its employees. 

According to sources in the PCB, the decision to reduce the manpower was taken recently at the meeting of the Governing Council in Naudero, Larkana. 

"The council approved that the manpower needs to be reduced to deal with the budget deficits as administrative expenses take up a big chunk of the budget," one source said. 

The source said, in the first phase, the PCB has decided to terminate contracts of some coaches and officials who are in the above-60 age group. 

"There will be more employees released later on through the HR department," the source said. 

The PCB has been facing budget deficits for the last two years after foreign teams stopped touring Pakistan since after the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. 

Another source said major casualties of the retrenchment drive could include former Test captains, Intikhab Alam and Wasim Bari both of whom are employed in senior positions in the board. 

The PCB claims that it has suffered loss of revenues after being forced to play its 'home' series abroad and also due to India freezing bilateral cricket ties in 2008.

India ‘A’ loses

India ‘A’s poor run of form in the Caribbean continued as it lost the first of the three-match unofficial ODI series against the West Indies ‘A’ by two wickets in a last over thriller here.

Opting to bat at the National Stadium, India was all out for 190 in the allotted 50 overs with West Indies skipper Veerasammy Permaul picking up four wickets.

Ajinkya Rahane top-scored for India with a fine 58.

The home side also kept losing wickets at regular intervals in the run chase and at one stage it was 158 for eight and it looked like India would pull off a sensational victory.

But tailenders Permaul and Nikita Miller put together an unbeaten 35-run stand for the ninth wicket to seal the match in the West Indies’ favour with three balls to spare.

Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan (30) and Rahane gave India a decent start, while Manoj Tiwary (26) and Jalaj Saxena (22) also chipped in with some valuable runs, but the Windies bowlers always kept the visitors in check by taking wickets at regular intervals.

Permaul, who returned to lead West Indies after missing the two-match Twenty20 series, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of four for 33. Jason Holder (two for 30) and Jonathan Carter (two for 41) also contributed to the team’s success.

In reply, West Indies lost Adrian Barath (5) early but Kieran Powell (25) and Kirk Edwards (33) steadied the boat.

Thereafter, Carter, who hit a solid 39, and Assad Fudadin (26) always kept the hosts in the hunt.

The scores: India ‘A’ 190 in 50 overs (Rahane 58, Dhawan 30, Manoj Tiwary 26, Permaul four for 33) lost to West Indies ‘A’ 193 for eight in 49.3 overs (Powell 25, Edwards 33, Carter 39, Fudadin 26, Dinda three for 45).

Australia beat South Africa by 93 runs in Centurion ODI

Australia recorded a 93-run win over South Africa in the first one-day international in Centurion, which was affected by frequent rains. Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey guided the Australians to 183 for 4 from 29 overs, setting a target of 223, before the debutant Pat Cummins and Mitchell Johnson shared six wickets to lead their team to victory. Former captain Ricky Ponting labelled Cummins and fellow star Mitch Marsh "exceptional talents". Cummins had a dream debut, taking three wickets in the rain-affected match in South Africa. "It's nice to have got off to a good start," said Ponting, who scored a man of the match-winning 63 off 77 balls. "[I'm] really pleased for some of our young guys today as well. I thought Cummins and Marsh were particularly good today, so some good signs, and nice for us to get off the mark in the series," The Daily Telegraph quoted him, as saying. Watch Full Highlights Only On Cricket Video Online