PCB reject B'desh test proposal
Karachi: Bangladesh has agreed to play one Test in Pakistan, provided the second match of the ICC World Test Championship is held in Dhaka, a proposal which was rejected by the PCB. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said that the board has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) proposal, making it clear that the two Tests were part of Pakistan's home series and must be played there. "It is strange that the BCB wants Pakistan to play a Test in Bangladesh in return," the official said. Bangladesh is due to tour Pakistan from January 18 to play two Tests and three T20 Internationals but the tour is still uncertain after BCB officials said that they will just play the T20 series there and not the Tests.
Stoinis fined for making personal abuse
Melbourne: Melbourne Stars all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been fined for making a personal abuse at Melbourne Renegades pacer Kane Richardson during a Big Bash League (BBL) contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Stoinis has been charged with a level 2 breach of the Cricket Australia (CA) Code of Conduct for personal abuse and was fined A$7500. Stoinis later apologised for his behaviour and said: “I got caught in the moment and took it too far.” “I realised immediately I was in the wrong and I apologised to Kane and to the umpires. I did the wrong thing and accept responsibility for my actions. The standards are there for a reason and I accept the penalty,” the all-rounder was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Indian Arrows hold Neroca in Goa
Vasco: All India Football Federation's developmental side Indian Arrows played out a 1-1 draw with NEROCA FC in the I-League here on Sunday. Sushil Meitei gave the visitors the lead in the 24th minute before Vikram Partap Singh equalised for the hosts three minutes before the end of first half. Arrows head coach Shanmugam Venkatesh retained the majority of his previous line-up, with only two changes in the form of Aman Chetri slotting into the front three ahead of Harmanpreet Singh and Bikash Yumnam starting at the back in place of Saurabh Meher. Hoping for a repeat of their stellar performance against Churchill Brothers, coach Venkatesh stuck to his tried and tested 4-3-3 formation at the Tilak Maidan. NEROCA head coach Gift Raikhan, on the other hand, opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Onyekuru join Galatasaray on loan
Monaco: Monaco's exciting young Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru is to spend the rest of the season on loan at Galatasaray, the Ligue 1 club announced on Sunday. It will be the 22-year-old's second loan spell in Turkey as he shone for Galatasaray last season when he was still at English club Everton. He scored 14 goals in 35 appearances for Galatasaray who went on to win the Turkish championship. Monaco, who signed the Nigerian for 17 million euros during the summer, have not included an ‘option to buy' clause in the loan, suggesting that Onyekuru remains a part of their long-term strategy.
Maguire faces race to be fit for derby
Manchester: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Harry Maguire faces a race to prove his fitness in time for the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City tomorrow. Maguire appeared to be limping following a first-half challenge on Adama Traore during United's 0-0 draw with Wolves but the centre-back eventually completed the 90 minutes. Solskjaer admitted he considered taking Maguire off at half-time and, when asked whether the defender would be fit for the first leg against City at Old Trafford, he replied: “I don't know.”