CRICKET
England are set 277 to win
England yesterday bowled out Pakistan and started on a quest for 277 runs to win the first Test with two days to bat at Old Trafford. Pakistan lost regular wickets on Friday and were 137-8 going into yesterday. They added 32 runs in just 16 deliveries as Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad wrapped up the tail. As of press time last night, England were 55-1, needing another 222 runs for victory.
CRICKET
Sydney seeks extra Test
Sydney yesterday made a pitch to host the Boxing Day Test against India as its traditional home, Melbourne, battles a surge in COVID-19 cases. Reports have suggested that Adelaide is the frontrunner to host the Dec. 26 to 30 clash if the Melbourne Cricket Ground is not able to, but Sydney Cricket Ground Trust chairman Tony Shepherd expressed interest. “We’d be very happy to host it, because it’s a major event and it’s good for Sydney, and people like coming to Sydney, and we have the capacity to host it if that’s what Cricket Australia want to do,” Shepherd told the Sydney Morning Herald. If that occurred, it would mean a double-header in the city with the usual Sydney Test ordinarily played after Melbourne.
AUSSIE RULES
Groping scandal erupts
Australia’s most popular spectator sport has become embroiled in a groping scandal that saw top AFL club Richmond apologize for “unacceptable behavior.” Footage on social media appeared to show a Richmond player grabbing the genitals of teammate Mabior Chol during a post-match song in their dressing room, while another was seen prodding the man’s anus. They were all wearing their playing kit at the time. Further video emerged of two more alleged incidents of inappropriate touching in changing rooms. Richmond Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was repeatedly questioned about his players’ behavior at a news conference on Friday, denying any knowledge of it before abruptly leaving. The team later issued a statement condemning it as “unacceptable and not in line with the club or community expectations.” There was an apology in the same statement from the players involved — Nick Vlastuin and Jayden Short. Vlastuin said he was “deeply embarrassed” while Short said that he had set “a poor example.” However, Chol said that he was unfazed and took no offense. “I have no issue whatsoever with those players, or any of my teammates,” he said.
SOCCER
Rui Pinto released
Portuguese media reported that Rui Pinto, the alleged hacker who has published internal documents that embarrassed clubs and officials, has been released from custody to await trial from home. State broadcaster RTP and other media reported that Pinto, considered the mastermind behind the “Football Leaks” revelations of soccer’s financial inner workings, was released from police custody in Lisbon on Friday. Pinto is due to face trial on accusations of attempted extortion and hacking into secret information held by Sporting Lisbon and the Portuguese Football Federation. He is also accused of illegal access to confidential data held on computers at the Portuguese attorney general’s office. Pinto denies wrongdoing, saying he is a whistleblower who in the public interest has helped expose what he claims are murky financial dealings. Pinto was extradited last year to Portugal from Hungary, where he had lived since 2015.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was