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NEWS DIGEST by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Share Tweet The Rawalpindi Test will begin as per schedule. © AFP December 1 Rawalpindi Test to go ahead as per schedule After a nervous 12-hour wait, the cricket boards of England and Pakistan confirmed that the series opening Test in Rawalpindi will begin on Thursday (December 1) as per schedule. There were concerns about a possible postponement after a spate of players from the touring squad took ill on the eve of the match. Only five England players partook in an optional training on Wednesday and a call on the game's start would be decided on the morning of the match. The visitors have since confirmed that they have enough fit members to field a XI. England had already announced their XI for the game. It remains to be seen how many members of that team are fit to take part in the game and whether Ben Stokes, among those to take ill, is fit to lead the side. … [Read more...] about December 2022 – News Digest

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said on Wednesday his team "will not be fooled" by reports of infighting in the Belgium camp ahead of the teams' winner-takes-all World Cup clash. The 2018 runners-up need to avoid defeat on Thursday to be sure of qualification for the last 16, while Belgium likely need all three points. Belgian coach Roberto Martinez hit out at "fake news" after media reports of a rift in his squad. "We must not relax, me also. He (Martinez) is a great coach and will know how to hurt Croatia," Dalic told a pre-match press conference. "We will not be fooled by media stories and rumours. We are expecting the best from Belgium, a great team with excellent players." Striker Romelu Lukaku is expected to start for Belgium, having made his comeback from a thigh injury as a late substitute in the 2-0 loss to Morocco last week. "He (Lukaku) is a great player who has been on the top of his game for many years in a row," said his former Chelsea teammate Mateo Kovacic … [Read more...] about FIFA World Cup 2022: Croatia ‘Will Not Be Fooled’ By Belgium Rumours | Football News

Belgium are not in "crisis mode" ahead of their crucial World Cup match against Croatia despite rumours of infighting and division in the squad, full-back Timothy Castagne said on Wednesday. The world's second-ranked side have to win at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday to be sure of reaching the last 16 after a surprising 2-0 loss to Morocco. Belgium have reached at least the quarter-finals at each of the past four major tournaments but have struggled in Qatar, labouring to a 1-0 win over Canada in their opener. However, Leicester defender Castagne said spirits in the camp were high. "Our confidence isn't as low as people think," he said. "We know that we have our destiny in our own hands. It's true we didn't play so well in the first two matches but we're not in crisis mode like some people are saying in the press." Belgium will have to push for the win as a draw would leave them needing Morocco to lose heavily to Canada in order for the Belgians to go through. Kevin … [Read more...] about Under-Pressure Belgium Not ‘In Crisis Mode’, Says Castagne | Football News

An Iranian man was shot dead by the security forces after celebrating when the United States eliminated his country's national team from the World Cup, rights groups said on Wednesday. Iran was knocked out of the World Cup by the United States in Qatar on Tuesday night, drawing a mixed response from pro- and anti-regime supporters. Many had refused to support the national team in response to a bloody government crackdown on more than two months of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Mehran Samak, 27, was shot dead after honking his car horn in Bandar Anzali, a city on the Caspian Sea coast northwest of Tehran, human rights groups said. Samak "was targeted directly and shot in the head by security forces... following the defeat of the national team against America", said Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR). The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) also reported that he had been killed by the security forces while celebrating. There … [Read more...] about Iranian Killed For Celebrating FIFA World Cup Loss to United States: Rights Groups | Football News

Chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa believes becoming a world champion is a realistic possibility and has given himself three to four years to achieve the feat. One of the country's youngest grandmasters, the 17-year-old defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen thrice in just six months, something that will go down as one of the highlights of his career. Recently, he played his best match of the Meltwater Chess Champions Tour Finals, beating Polish GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda. "Yes, my ultimate dream and goal is to become world number one and world chess champion, and I think it can be achievable in the next three to four years," Praggnandhaa told PTI before leaving for Rashtrapati Bhawan to receive the Arjuna Award here on Wednesday. "I do not think it should take a long time. If I continue to play well and be in the right direction then it is a realistically possible." During the Meltwater Chess Champions Tour Finals, Praggnanandhaa and reigning world champion Carlsen chose to play chess near … [Read more...] about Aiming To Become World Champion In 3-4 Years, Says R Praggnanandhaa | Chess News

Former AC Milan and Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said on Wednesday the implementation of the five-substitute rule has "changed the game", leading to higher quality matches at the World Cup. Speaking in Doha as part of FIFA's technical study group which analyses tactics and trends at the World Cup, Zaccheroni said the change was "a brilliant way to avoid tiredness". "(Now) we manage to have higher quality up until the end. Many goals were seen at the end of games, now it is more difficult," he said. "Now we see games which are good up until the last minute." The International Football Association Board passed a temporary exemption in May 2020 to allow domestic leagues to expand the maximum amount of substitutions from three to five, to help player welfare during the Covid pandemic. The rules were made permanent in July 2022 and implemented for the first time at a World Cup in Qatar. Zaccheroni -- who won the Scudetto in his first season in charge of Milan and lifted the … [Read more...] about Five-Sub Rule Means ‘Higher Quality Football’ In Qatar, Says FIFA Expert | Football News

India's ODI series against New Zealand came to a tame end after the last third match of the series was also abandoned due to rain. The hosts took the series 1-0 by virtue of winning the first ODI. Kane Williamson 's team was on track to win the final match of the series too after a lacklustre performance by Shikhar Dhawan 's team with the bat. The T20I series was also marred by rain and it was won by India in the end. Speaking about the road ahead for the Indian team as it prepares for the ODI World Cup next year, stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan stressed on the need for the team to play more on Asian wickets as the tournament will be held entirely in India. "In Bangladesh, all senior players will be back. That will be a more practical journey towards the World Cup. All the seniors are going to be back in the side. More Asian wickets is a more practical journey to the World Cup for us. "It is important to pick up the details, like where to pitch the ball and the lengths. … [Read more...] about “More Asian Wickets…”: Shikhar Dhawan On India’s Ideal Preparation For 2023 World Cup | Cricket News

Table tennis great Achanta Sharath Kamal was on Wednesday bestowed with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the country's highest sporting honour, by President Droupadi Murmu in a glittering National Sports Awards ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. While Sharath is the lone Khel Ratna award recipient, 25 sportspersons, including shuttlers Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, woman boxer Nikhat Zareen, track and field athletes Eldhose Paul and Avinash Sable, were conferred with the Arjuna Award. The creme de la creme of Indian sports were recognised for their achievements in the past few years at a specially organised ceremony. The event is traditionally held every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on August 29. But last year also, the event was held on another date. The star attraction of the ceremony was Sharath, who received his Khel Ratna award amid thunderous applause from the select dignitaries present at the Durbar … [Read more...] about Achanta Sharath Kamal Bestowed With Khel Ratna In Glittering National Sports Awards Ceremony | Other Sports News

Veteran Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco has accepted a voluntary two-month doping suspension the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Wednesday. The ITIA said in a statement that an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication, methylphenidate had been found in a urine sample from the payer who turned 39 on November 15. Verdasco, who has an ATP career-high ranking of 7 but is currently 125 in the world, was tested at an ATP Challenger event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in February. The statement said that Verdasco admitted the  breach and said he had been diagnosed with ADHD and the methylphenidate was prescribed by his doctor but that he had neglected to renew his Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). It added that the 2009 Australian Open semi-finalist has since been granted a new TUE by World Anti-Doping Agency WADA. "The ITIA accepts that the player did not intend to cheat, that his violation was inadvertent and unintentional," said the … [Read more...] about Fernando Verdasco, Veteran Spanish Tennis Player, Accepts 2-Month Doping Ban | Tennis News

The touring England side found itself in a difficult situation on the eve of the first Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi as several of its players, including captain Ben Stokes , were struck down by an unknown virus. The Pakistan cricket board said on Wednesday that it was discussing next steps with the England and Wales Cricket Board. "The PCB and ECB are in discussions regarding the commencement of the 1st #PAKvENG Test as some England players are down with viral infection," the board said on Twitter. England paceman Stuart Broad decided to have some fun and tweeted the photos of former England captain Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain with the caption, "An option?" as a response to the tweet by the two cricket boards. Not to be left behind in the social media banter game, Hussain immediately replied on Broad's comment with, "Siri show me the opposite of Bazball !!!". In what can seen as a great example of self-depricating humour, Hussain pretty much … [Read more...] about Stuart Broad’s Suggestion To Replace Unwell England Players Gets Hilarious Response From Nasser Hussain | Cricket News