Morcocco threatens to boycott African Cup
RABAT, Dec 29 :After its sensational World Cup performance, Morocco’s national soccer team might boycott the African Nations Championship next month because of a diplomatic dispute with tournament host Algeria.The Moroccan Football Federation said its team will only compete if there is a direct flight from the Moroccan capital Rabat to the Algerian city of Constantine, where Morocco’s games are scheduled to be played.Moroccan military and commercial aircraft have been barred from Algerian airspace since the two neighbors severed diplomatic ties last year.The African Nations Championship involves players for local clubs. Morocco is scheduled to play against Sudan, Madagascar, and Ghana in the group phase. Morocco became the first African or Arab nation to reach the semifinals of the World Cup in this year’s tournament in Qatar. (AP)
SKY, Mandhana nominees for ICC top honours
DUBAI, Dec 29: Swashbuckling Indian batters Suryakumar Yadav and Smriti Mandhana were on Thursday nominated for the men’s and women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year awards, respectively, for their exploits in 2022.Suryakumar had a sensational 2022 in the shortest format of the game, becoming just the second batter to score more than 1000 runs in a year in the format.The year also saw Yadav become the top-ranked men’s T20 batter, achieving a career-high 890 rating points.Last year’s ICC women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year, Mandhana was once again a picture of consistency in the shortest format.From smashing the quickest fifty by an India woman (to breaching the 2500-run mark in T20s, Mandhana enjoyed a good run this year.(PTI)
