■ Cricket
Overseas players to be cut
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday that counties will only be able to field one overseas player from the 2008 season. "During a consultation process led by ECB deputy chief executive Hugh Morris it became clear that an overwhelming number of counties supported the reduction from two to one overseas player," the ECB said in a statement. Counties will still be able to replace their one registered overseas player with another should he get injured or called up for an overseas tour at short notice, the ECB said. A maximum number of four overseas players will be able to be registered in one season under the new proposals with a minimum three week registration period for each player.
■ Cricket
Lara to remain as captain
Brian Lara is set to remain as West Indies captain after issuing a public apology for an outburst against the selectors and pitch conditions after losing the final home test against India last month. Lara criticized the selection policies and preparation of pitches during the four-match series, which the West Indies lost 1-0. The veteran batsman was brought before a West Indies Cricket Board committee, headed by president Ken Gordon, to investigate the matter. The committee met with Lara and asked him to make a public apology, to which he agreed. Lara, in his third term as skipper of the Caribbean side, admitted in his written apology that he "broke the confidence placed in me as West Indies captain by my overreaction." Lara "apologized to all concerned" in his letter of apology, dated July 31. The 37-year-old indicated his willingness to continue as skipper during his letter.
■ Cycling
Bazayev takes first stage
Assan Bazayev won the mass sprint on Wednesday to take the first stage of the Tour of Germany. Bazayev, a Kazakh riding for the Astana team, edged Danilo Napolitano of Italy and Erik Zabel of Germany across the line in a stage held in driving rain between Duesseldorf and Bielefeld. The large group of riders, led by Bazayev, needed 4 hours, 43 minutes, 6 seconds to cover the 198.2km. Anton Luengo of Spain and Andreas Matzbacher of Austria made a break 30km after the start but were caught by the field 23km before the finish.
■ Rugby union
England star arrested
England and Bath rugby flyhalf Olly Barkley was arrested after allegedly breaking a man's jaw in a bar fight in Cornwall. Two other men were arrested in the incident, which occurred early on Sunday morning in Newquay. Police said they used tear gas to quell the disturbance. Barkley and the two others were released on bail. One man suffered head and facial injuries, including a fractured jaw, and was treated in hospital. Barkley, 24, has 16 England caps.
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38