The Board of Control for Cricket in India "made it clear" that the second cricket Test between India and Australia will go ahead as scheduled in Hyderabad since the state government has assured the safety and security of the players. The city of Hyderabad was "rocked by two terror blasts" Thursday, killing 17 people and injuring many (PTI, 2/22). ... The Asian Football Confederation has set up a task force to help fight match-fixing in the continent. AFC General Secretary Alex Soosay said that the task force will "collaborate with all stakeholders and educate member associations on ways to combat the practice and introduce mechanisms to fight it" (SHANGHAI DAILY, 2/23). ... Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the Int'l Cricket Council Code of Conduct relating to clothing and equipment for "wearing a batting pad, which had more manufacturers’ logos than permitted under ICC rules," when he batted on the third day (PTI, 2/24). ... Three Kenyan marathoners will serve a cumulative five year bans including a two time winner of the Seoul Marathon, Wilson Erupe Loyanae. Loyanae and Nixon Kiplagat Cherutich "will serve a ban of two years each with Moses Kiptoo Kurgat being sanctioned for a year after both A and B samples returned positive results for banned substance abuse" (XINHUA, 2/23). ... Hockey India has derecognized Air India as its associate member "due to non-payment of its annual membership fees" since '10-11. Air India has been a member of HI since '09 and was demoted to an associate member last year, following non-payment of fees (THE HINDU, 2/23).
