India fined for slow over-rate
Sydney: The Indian cricket team has been fined 20 per cent of its match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the third T20I against Australia. ICC match referee David Boon imposed the sanction after India was ruled to be one over short of the target on Tuesday, after time allowances were taken into consideration. On-field umpires Rod Tucker, Gerard Abood, TV umpire Paul Wilson & fourth umpire Sam Nogajski levelled charge.
Green, Swepson in Australia A squad
Sydney: In-form all-rounder Cameron Green and leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson were on Wednesday included in the 12-member Australia A squad for the day-night practice game against India, beginning at the SCG on Friday. The 21-year-old Green, who scored an unbeaten 125 in first practice match against India A, will look to seal his place in the first Test playing eleven with another good outing. Swepson, on the other hand, featured in all three T20Is against India and captured five wickets. Led by Alex Carey, the Australia A side also includes Test squad members Joe Burns and Sean Abbott, besides all-rounder Moises Henriques and pace bowlers Mark Steketee, Harry Conway and Will Sutherland.
SA to tour Pakistan for 2 Tests, 3 T20Is
Karachi: South Africa will tour Pakistan for the first time in 14 years for two Tests and three T20Is starting in January, the country's cricket board (PCB) said on Wednesday. While Karachi and Rawalpindi will hosts the two Tests, the three T20Is will be held in Lahore. “South Africa will arrive in Karachi on 16 January and will play the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi from 26-30 January,” PCB said in a statement. “They will then travel to Rawalpindi where the second Test will be held from 4-8 February. The iconic Gaddafi Stadium, headquarters of Pakistan cricket, will be the venue of the three T20Is, which are scheduled for 11, 13 and 14 February.”
Momota announces return to competition
Tokyo: Japan's badminton world No 1 Kento Momota on Wednesday announced his long-awaited return to competition as he begins his bid for home glory at the Tokyo Olympics nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash. Momota will compete at the All-Japan national championships in Tokyo later this month before playing in the Thailand Open in January following a difficult year in which he feared his career might be over after fracturing an eye socket in the accident. “I'm nervous but I'm really looking forward to it,” said Momota, who was badly hurt when the vehicle taking him to Kuala Lumpur airport just hours after he won the Malaysia Masters was involved in an accident that killed his driver. “I'm really looking forward to playing against the best international players after such a long time.”
Eng returning to Sri lanka for 2 Tests
London: England will return to Sri Lanka for a rearranged two-Test tour in January, 10 months after leaving the Asian country as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold. England's players will isolate for three days in Hambantota after arriving in Sri Lanka on January 2, with the first Test starting January 14 in Galle. The second Test starts on January 22. The travelling squad will undergo full coronavirus testing every two days throughout the trip and players are expected to be offered mental health screening ahead of the tour, following concerns about their well-being in a bio-secure bubble.