Kapil Dev might have severed his connections with cricket by stepping down as coach of the Indian team, but it looks like nothing can stop him from leaving the sports arena. The Times of India reported that the former Indian captain has confirmed his participation in the Xerox Open golf championship slated to begin at the Classic Golf resort in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The newspaper said in a report on Sunday that the first golf tourney in the Northern leg of the Indian professional tour this year will feature such big names like Jeev Milka Singh, Jyothi Randhawa and Arjun Atwal among others.

Kapil Dev who took to golf soon after his retirement from competitive cricket has been given an entry in the amateur category in the tournament. The newspaper also said that he is now hoping to represent the country in golf in the not too distant a future.

TNCA felicitates State team on eve of Sri Lankan tour

On the eve of the Tamil Nadu team's departure for Sri Lanka for the now revived Gopalan Trophy, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) felicitated the squad in the presence of the man after whom the trophy is named - the former double international MJ Gopalan - at a function held at the S Sriraman Hall at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

The TNCA secretary Ashok Kumbhat welcomed the gathering. While dwelling at length on the history of the tourney, Kumbhat said that the expectations were high since the present Tamil Nadu team boasted of six Indian probables.

The vice president of TNCA, S Ganesan, Former Indian captain K Srikkanth, and the Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India, R Jayasinge and Gopalan spoke on the occasion while wishing the team success in the series. The assistant secretary of TNCA, Sampath Kumar proposed a vote of thanks.

A rather sedate exit for Indians in county

It was not really a farewell with fireworks for the Indians in the English county season as Rahul Dravid (9) and Sourav Ganguly (22) failed to make a significant impact even as their respective counties Kent and Lancashire registered resounding victories in the National League Division One matches at Worcester and Old Trafford on Sunday.

Set a meagre 99 for victory, Kent demolished the Worcestershire attack to record an eight wicket win in 26.5 overs. Dravid who remained unbeaten at the end came into bat at the score of 73 for 2 and helped Kent to canter home.

Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Lancashire recorded a facile six wicket win over Sussex. Opening the innings Ganguly looked in good touch while picking up four boundaries in his 22 before he holed out to Michael Bevan off Robin Martin-Jenkins. But with the target being reduced due to rain, Lancashire had little difficulty in romping home.

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