Ind-SL series to begin with T20Is; B’luru to host d/n Test
New Delhi, Feb 2: In a reversal to the original schedule, the Indian cricket team will now start the series against Sri Lanka with T20Is and then play the Test matches, after a request from the visiting side. The Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) had earlier requested BCCI to shift the T20I series before the Test matches to allow a smoother bubble-to-bubble transfer of their T20I squad, who will have just concluded a series in Australia. The dates for the series are still being tweaked. The first Test will now be played in Mohali, with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has now upgraded its flood lights, set to host the tour-ending pink-ball Test. (IANS)
Senegal beat Burkina Faso 3-1 to reach African Cup final
YAOUNDE (Cameroon), Feb 3: Sadio Mané set up one goal and scored the last one as Senegal beat Burkina Faso 3-1 Wednesday to reach its second successive African Cup of Nations final. Mané scored on a breakaway in the 87th minute to seal the win at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde after Senegal went 2-0 up and then saw Burkina Faso pull a goal back with eight minutes left. The Senegal-Burkina Faso semi burst into life at the end of the game, with all four goals coming in the last 20 minutes. (AP)
Four English Premier League matches rescheduled
London, Feb 3: Four Premier League matches including Arsenal vs Wolverhampton and Liverpool’s match against Leeds that were previously postponed, have been rescheduled for February 23-24. The Gunners were scheduled to host Wolverhampton at the Emirates Stadium on December 28, but the game was postponed following a request from the visitors. Also, the latest rearrangement includes Burnley v Spurs and Watford v Crystal Palace, scheduled to be played on February 23. Now, Mikel Arteta’s side have announced that they will welcome the Midlands club to north London on February 24. (IANS)
Federer, Nadal plan to compete in London Laver Cup
London, Feb 3: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both say they will play in the next edition of the Laver Cup. Federer, who has been sidelined since July because of an injured knee, and Nadal, fresh off earning his men’s-record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, said in a statement Thursday they will represent Team Europe in London on Sept. 23-25. Federer said Nadal messaged him last year suggesting they play doubles together again in the Laver Cup. They teamed up to win a doubles match during the first Laver Cup in 2017. (AP)
India’s Winter Oly contingent found negative in retests
BEIJING, Feb 3: A day after testing positive for COVID-19, the manager of India’s Winter Olympics contingent, Mohammad Abbas Wani, has returned negative results in two retests conducted in the last 24 hours, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said on Thursday. Wani was found positive upon his arrival at the Beijing Airport on Wednesday. IOA president Narinder Batra said the official has returned negative in the last two tests. “The manager of Indian team Mr Abbas Wani tested negative in the 2 tests done on him in last 24 hours. Hence, the entire Indian contingent in Beijing is Covid free,” Batra said. (PTI)
Sania, Bopanna among tennis players in TOPS core group
New Delhi, Feb 3: Indian tennis stars Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Ankita Raina and Ramkumar Ramanathan were on Thursday included in the core group of athletes under the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) till the Hangzhou Asian Games later this year. The decision to include quartet for support under TOPS was taken at a meeting of the Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell. Besides, the MOC also approved Rs 3.62 lakh to teenage archer Manjiri Alone for purchase of a recurve bow set. (PTI)