TRAILBLAZER'S SATNAM FAILS DOPE TEST
New Delhi: Satnam Singh Bhamara, the first Indian player to be drafted into an NBA team in 2015, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency after he failed a dope test last month. The 23-year-old Punjab cager has failed an out-of-competition test conducted in Bangalore by NADA during the preparatory camp for the South Asian Games. He was provisionally suspended on November 19. The prohibited substance found from Bhamara's ‘A' sample of his urine is not known. Bhamara, however, disputed the charge levelled against him and said that he “was and remains a clean” athlete. In a statement issued on Saturday, the 23-year-old Bhamara said he has requested the NADA for a hearing by its Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel and to decide his case within three months.
LAUNCH OF NEW WC VENUe postponed
Doha: Qatar has postponed to next year the opening of Education City stadium, its second newly built venue for the 2022 football World Cup, FIFA said on Saturday. The venue was due to be inaugurated when it hosted the semi-final of the Club World Cup between Liverpool and an as yet undetermined side on December 18. But delays to the certification of the stadium by the authorities will mean that the fixture will instead be played at Khalifa International Stadium which was already due to host several Club World Cup fixtures. Education City will now be opened in 2020 although the world football governing body did not give an exact date.
FAWAD RECALLED AFTER 10 YEARS
Islamabad: Pakistan has recalled 34-year-old middle-order batsman Fawad Alam for the first time in 10 years for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said on Saturday that the left handed batsman was selected because of his recent prolific scoring in domestic cricket. The series, which is part of ICC's World Test Championship, starts at Rawalpindi next Wednesday. Karachi will host the second test from Dec. 19-23. Alam is one of the two changes Pakistan selectors have made from the 16-man squad that lost the two-Test matches against Australia. Alam has replaced Iftikhar Ahmed while left arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari comes in in place of young fast bowler Mohammad Musa.
PLAY cancelled in DANGEROUS PITCH
Melbourne: Play was abandoned on Saturday during a domestic game due to a dangerous pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, just weeks before it is due to host the traditional Boxing Day Test. A decision to call off play was made on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash between Victoria and Western Australia after several batsmen were hit by rising deliveries. It followed talks between the umpires and captains Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh. Marsh was among those to be battered multiple times by balls from fast bowlers that rose sharply and unexpectedly on the lively pitch. One that caught Marcus Stoinis in the ribs proved the final straw.
ATK end NorthEast's unbeaten run
Guwahati: ATK reclaimed the top spot in the Indian Super League with an impressive 3-0 win over NorthEast United FC on Saturday. An early strike from David Williams (11th) and a brace from Roy Krishna (35th, 90+4) were enough for Antonio Habas' team to hand NorthEast their first defeat of the season. With Saturday's double strike, Krishna took his goal tally to six to become the leading goal scorer this season. With their fourth win of the campaign, ATK have now 14 points from seven matches while NorthEast, who have 10 points, are at fourth spot. Today, Three points will be the top priority for a Hyderabad FC when they host FC Goa at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium. Hyderabad with just four points from six games, can leapfrog a couple of teams if they manage to upset the Gaurs.