Global Sports News Updates

No high-fives, only fist-bumps: NBA to basketball players amid coronavirus scare

The world's top basketball league, the NBA, has told teams to avoid high-fiving fans, strangers and avoid taking any item for autographs. In a memo listing short-term recommendations to limit the spread of the coronavirus, NBA said, "The coronavirus remains a situation with the potential to change rapidly." More than 3,000 people worldwide have been killed due to coronavirus.
read more at Reuters

When you cross 30, your eyes, reflexes slow down: Kapil Dev over Kohli's form

Talking about Virat Kohli's form in New Zealand tour, ex-India captain Kapil Dev said that once a player crosses 30 years of age his "eyesight" and "reflexes" slow down. "I think [Kohli] needs to adjust his eyesight," he added. Kapil Dev further said that Kohli needs to "practice more" and "tighten up his technique". Kohli is currently 31 years old.
read more at Hindustan Times

Video shows Raina greeting Dhoni in Chennai with a kiss on neck

The Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday shared a video of MS Dhoni being greeted by teammate Suresh Raina. In the video, Raina first greets Dhoni with a hug and then goes on to give a kiss on the former India captain's neck. Dhoni arrived in Chennai on Sunday for training sessions ahead of the Indian Premier League starting March 29.
read more at Cricket Country

Latest Test rankings for batsmen out; Kohli retains 2nd spot, Rahane, Agarwal slip

Virat Kohli has retained his number two spot in the latest rankings for batsmen in Test cricket after the New Zealand series. While Cheteshwar Pujara has jumped two places to be ranked seventh, Ajinkya Rahane has slipped one spot to ninth. Mayank Agarwal who was placed 10th has dropped out of the top 10 with England's Ben Stokes replacing him.
read more at Hindustan Times

Hardik Pandya gains 7 kg during recovery, shares before-and-after pics

All-rounder Hardik Pandya took to Instagram to share before-and-after pictures of his transformation after recovering from back injury ahead of IPL 2020. "From 68 kgs to now 75 kgs in three months. Non-stop effort, no shortcuts, #StrongerAndBetter," wrote Pandya, who had undergone back surgery in October 2019. Hardik recently played his first competitive cricket match in more than five months.
read more at CricTracker

Can't squeeze life out of individuals, need to recognise next 3-4 pacers: Kohli

Talking about current Team India pacers, Virat Kohli said that the management need to "recognise" the next three-four bowlers who can keep the "standards up" as the current bowlers are not getting any "younger". "You can't squeeze the life out of individuals, and when they are done, you have no back-up," he added. "Mini transitions happen," he stated.
read more at Hindustan Times

Kohli is aggressive but never crosses the line: Coach Rajkumar Sharma

India captain Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma defended Kohli's on-field demeanour after he was criticised for his send-off to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson during the second Test. "When he's doing well with same aggression for the country, then everyone appreciates," Sharma said. "There is a thin line between aggression and misbehaviour. He never crosses that line," he added.
read more at India.com

Nothing, not even discussed it: Ganguly on coronavirus impact on IPL, SA ODIs

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly ruled out any impact of coronavirus on the upcoming ODI series against South Africa and the Indian Premier League starting March 29. "Nothing in India. Not even discussed it [coronavirus]," Ganguly stated. IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel, however, said they were "keeping an eye" on the situation and there was no "threat" as of now.
read more at Hindustan Times

Latest Test rankings for bowlers out; Bumrah enters top 10 after NZ Tests

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah jumped four spots to be ranked seventh in the latest rankings for bowlers in Test cricket. Bumrah took six wickets in the recently concluded New Zealand Test series which India lost 0-2. Kiwi pacer Trent Boult also entered the top 10 while his teammate Tim Southee climbed two spots to be ranked fourth.
read more at CricTracker

Ronaldo blocks transfer website after they value him 37 places behind Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly blocked Transfermarkt, a website that gives an estimated market value of football players, on social media after they valued him 37 places behind Lionel Messi. Transfermarkt has valued the 35-year-old Juventus forward at €75 million while Messi has been valued at €140 million. PSG's Kylian Mbappé has been valued the highest at €200 million.
read more at RT

Peshawar Zalmi is my baby: Sammy denies reports of rift with franchise owner

Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy has denied reports of rift with franchise owner Javed Afridi. He tweeted, "I can’t believe the media would think that my bro Javed and I would ever have an issue. I'm actually laughing at this. Listen guys I love this man as my own brother...@PeshawarZalmi is my baby and nothing comes between us. Absolutely nothing."
read more at CricTracker

Joshi, Venkatesh among 5 short-listed for national selectors' interviews

Former bowlers Venkatesh Prasad and Sunil Joshi are among the five candidates short-listed out of the 44 applicants for interviews to pick two national selectors, a report has quoted BCCI sources as saying. The other three are cricketer-turned-commentator L Sivaramakrishnan, ex-medium pacer Harvinder Singh and spinner Rajesh Chauhan. Ex-pacer Ajit Agarkar hasn't been called.
read more at Hindustan Times

Very passionate guy: Tim Southee defends Kohli's outburst in second Test

New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has defended Team India captain Virat Kohli's outburst during the course of the recently concluded second Test in Christchurch. "He is a very passionate guy...and very energetic in the field. He tries to bring out the best in himself," Southee said. Kohli was criticised for his send-off to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

2019 Cricket World Cup gives £350 million boost to UK economy

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 generated a total economic impact to the UK of more than £350 million. The live coverage of the event reached a global cumulative average audience of 1.6 billion viewers, while digital video content netted over 4.6 billion views. London attracted the most direct economic impact of almost £65 million, the ICC said.
read more at CricTracker

Japan could be allowed to postpone Olympics to end of year

Tokyo’s contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allows it to postpone the Games until the end of the year, Japan's Olympics minister said amid concern that the coronavirus outbreak could force the IOC to cancel them. "The contract calls for the Games to be held within 2020. That could be interpreted as allowing a postponement," Seiko Hashimoto said.
read more at Hindustan Times

Quality of fast bowling in PSL better than IPL: Alex Hales

Karachi Kings batsman Alex Hales has said that the quality of bowling in Pakistan Super League (PSL) is better than that of Indian Premier League (IPL). "IPL has more spinners to pick from, but here at the PSL the seam bowling is the toughest you will face anywhere in the world. I'd rank it certainly right up there," Hales said.
read more at Cricket Country

Bhuvi and Chahar's bowling styles more suited to NZ conditions: Manjrekar

After New Zealand handed India their first whitewash in Tests in eight years, Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted, "Bhuvi and Chahar's bowling styles were more suited to the conditions." He added, "Look at DeGrandhomme's effectiveness as bowler." He was responding to a fan who had asked him if Chahar and Bhuvneshwar would have made more impact than Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav.
read more at CricTracker

England cricketers replace handshakes with fist bumps over coronavirus fears

England players will not be shaking hands on their tour of Sri Lanka and will use fist bumps instead to greet each other following the coronavirus outbreak, captain Joe Root said. "After the illnesses that swept through the squad in South Africa, we are well aware of the importance of keeping contact to a minimum," Root said.
read more at The Guardian

I will hang out of Ponting's pocket during IPL 2020: Wicketkeeper Alex Carey

Talking about the upcoming IPL 2020, Delhi Capitals' new recruit Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey said, "I can't wait, even if I'm not playing, to just sit alongside head coach Ricky Ponting and chat cricket with him." He added, "I will probably hang out of his pocket for the few months that I'm there," he added.

The person who doesn't have a brain is Fakhar Zaman: Shoaib Akhtar

Criticising the performance of Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), ex-Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said Fakhar doesn't have a "brain". "When you have one player who is already playing fast, then Fakhar needs to understand that he can slow down a bit," Akhtar explained. Fakhar has scored 74 runs in three PSL matches so far.
read more at Hindustan Times

Tamim Iqbal slams highest ever ODI score by a B'desh player, breaks own record

Opener Tamim Iqbal on Tuesday smashed the highest-ever ODI score by a Bangladesh player, after hitting 158 runs off 136 deliveries in second ODI against Zimbabwe. The 30-year-old broke his own record of 154 runs, which he had scored against Zimbabwe in 2009. Tamim has also become the first Bangladesh batsman to score 7,000 runs in ODI cricket for Bangladesh.
read more at Hindustan Times

Thailand women cricketers dance after scoring their highest-ever T20I total

The Thailand women cricketers broke into an impromptu dance during a rain break in their last match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup against Pakistan. While the match was eventually called off due to the rain, Thailand Women posted 150/3 in 20 overs, their highest-ever T20I total. Thailand lost all of their matches in the tournament.
read more at Times Now