Sports World, December 29, 2023: WFI Office Moves Out Of Brij Bhushan's Residence; Australia Claim Test Series With 79-Run Win Against Pakistan; India Docked Two WTC Points - As It Happened

Bangladesh's hopes of securing their first-ever T20I series victory in New Zealand were temporarily dashed as the second game was washed out in Mount Maunganui. Down Under, Pat Cummins' brilliance shone through yet again as the Aussie skipper completed a 10-wicket match haul to help his team win the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne against Pakistan. In football, the Indian Super League saw a double-header with Odisha FC thrashing Jamshedpur 4-1 in the evening, and NorthEast United holding FC Goa to a 1-1 draw in the night. Catch the highlights of all the sporting action on Friday, December 29, 2023, here. (Sports News | December 28 Highlights) 

11:59PM: And That's A Wrap

That's it from us today. We will be back tomorrow with the live updates from the second ODI between India women and Australia women in Mumbai, in addition to all the other sporting action that unfolds through the day. Goodnight.

10:05 PM: ISL Update

Odisha FC have continued their impressive run in the Indian Super league 2023-24 season with another comprehensive victory. They defeated Jamshedpur 4-1 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. This was Odisha's seventh win in 12 matches, putting 24 points to their name. In the second match of the day, NorthEast United drew 1-1 against FC Goa.

9:45 PM: PKL Update

Three-time Pro Kabaddi League champions Patna Pirates scored a facile 46-33 victory over Haryana Steelers in their Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 match in Noida. Manjeet, who logged in 13 points, and Krishan Dhull, who scored five points, were the best performers for the Pirates.

8:30 PM: Lamichhane Convicted Of Rape

Former Nepal cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane has been convicted of rape by the Kathmandu District Court. Lamichhane had earlier been arrested after a young woman alleged that the cricketer raped her in a Kathmandu hotel room in August 2022. He was the first player from Nepal to play in the Indian Premier League. Read our report for more details.

7:25 PM: NBA Update

The Detroit Pistons have equalled the longest losing run in NBA history as they were beaten by the Boston Celtics for a 28th consecutive defeat. Detroit, who lost 128-122, matched the record set by the Philadelphia 76ers across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The Pistons led by 21 points at one stage against the Celtics but went on to lose in overtime. They face the Toronto Raptors on Saturday aiming to avoid taking sole ownership of the losing record.

6:58 PM: Wrestlers vs WFI - Latest Update

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Friday moved its office out of the residence of its former president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, after the sports ministry had recently raised serious objections to it. The new WFI office is located in the Hari Nagar area of New Delhi, as per a PTI report. The sports ministry had cited the office running from Brij Bhushan's residence as one of the reasons for suspending WFI.

6:15 PM: Carlo Ancelotti Renews With Real Madrid Until 2026

Real Madrid have decided to extend manager Carlo Ancelotti’s contract until June 30, 2026. In his five seasons as coach of Real Madrid, he has won 10 titles, which include two Champions League, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, one La Liga, two Copa del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup.

5:35 PM: Rashid Not In AFG Squad Vs UAE

The Afghanistan national men's cricket team are playing three T20Is against UAE in Sharjah, starting today. But their regular T20I captain Rashid Khan is missing from the 18-member squad. Read our report to find out why.  

5:07 PM: Magnus Carlsen Is World Rapid Champ Again

Magnus Carlsen, the highest ranked chess player in the history of the sport, led a 202-player field nearly all the way to defend his World Rapid crown at Samarkand with an unbeaten 10/13 total, seven wins and six draws. It was a record fifth Rapid title for the Norwegian, 33, who abdicated his classical crown last year as he preferred faster time limits. In rapid chess, each player has 15 minutes for all the moves plus 10 additional seconds for each move starting from move one.

 4:00 PM: Virat Kohli's New Record 

India's star batter Virat Kohli has become the first individual in cricket history to score over 2000 runs in seven separate calendar years. Kohli crossed the 2000-run threshold in India's loss to South Africa in the first Test match between the two in Centurion, providing a rare silver lining in an otherwise disappointing showing. 

Read more here. 

2:40 PM: NZ Vs BAN, 2nd T20I Called Off Due To Heavy Rain

The second T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand is called off due to heavy rain in Mount Maunganui. Bangladesh asked New Zealand to bat first and after Tim Seifert's flying start, the Kiwis were are 72 for 2 after 11 overs when Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell were at the crease. Rain interrupted the match and after waiting for more than two hours when there was no improvement in the weather, the Umpire decided to call it off.

1:10 PM: Wolves Send Portuguese Striker Fabio Silva On Loan To Rangers

 Wolverhampton sent Fabio Silva on loan to Scottish club Rangers to give the Portuguese striker some game time ahead of a possible permanent move away from Molineux in the offseason, according to reports from AP. It will be the 21-year-old Silva's third loan spell away from Wolves since joining the club in September 2020. He has previously been at Anderlecht in Belgium and PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

1:00 PM: Ravindra Jadeja Starts Training

Amid the doom and gloom following a humiliating defeat, the Indian cricket team has some good news as senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja could be available for the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, starting January 3, according to reports from PTI. Jadeja missed the opening Test match after complaining of an "upper back spasm" during the morning of the first day at the Supersport Park.

12:50 PM: Australia Win 2nd Test Against Pakistan By 79 Runs 

Pakistan started the chase well, but two back-to-back fine catches finished the match for Pakistan on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test. Shan Masood and Salman Agha notched up half-tons but that was not enough as Australian captain Pat Cummins took a fifer to win the match and series for Australia. 

12:01 PM: A Decade In Coma For F 1 Legend Michael Schumacher

It was exactly ten years ago to the day when Formula One legend Michael Schumacher suffered a horrifying accident that changed the lives of him and his loved ones forever. On December 29, 2013, tragedy struck Schumacher while skiing with his then 14-year-old son Mick in the French Alpine ski resort of Meribel. Read more here

11:30 AM: India Docked Two WTC Points After Slow Over Rate In 1st Test 

India's heaviest defeat in South Africa in the first Test at Centurion came along with a fine of 10 percent of their match fees and Rohit Sharma's team being docked two crucial points in the World Test Championship (WTC) according to reports from PTI. India lost within three days in an abject surrender to the South African side, suffering the heaviest defeat in the African nation by an innings and 32 runs in the first of the two Tests.

11:00 AM: Avesh Khan Added To India's Test Squad In South Africa

A day after their embarrassing defeat to hosts South Africa in the first Test, India called up right-arm fast bowler Avesh Khan on Friday in a bid to bolster their pace attack for the second and final Test at Cape Town, according to reports from PTI. India lost the opening Test by an innings and 32 runs in Centurion on Thursday, the match ending in three days. The right-arm fast bowler was named as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the two Tests as he did not get the necessary clearance from the BCCI medical team. 

10:00 AM: Dean Elgar Named South Africa Captain For Final Test

Retiring South African veteran batter Dean Elgar has been named the captain of the national side for the final Test match against India. Full-time captain, Temba Bavuma was injured while fielding in the first Test and has been ruled out of the second Test match. In his absence, former Test captain Dean Elgar who is also playing his last Test series, stood in as captain and he will exercise the captain's duties in his farewell Test match as well.

8:10 AM: EPL 2023-24: Brighton Beat Tottenham Hotspurs 4-2

Jack Hinshelwood opened the goal account for Brighton in the 13th minute, which Brazilian Joao Pedro doubled in just the 23rd minute. Spurs were unable to tackle Brighton's defense and the score was 2-0 at half-time. In the second half, Pervis Estupinan scored the third goal and Pedro scored his second in the 75th minute to make things hard for Spurs. However, they fought back with two goals in the next 10 minutes but were unable to score more until the final whistle.

8:00 AM: EPL 2023-24: West Ham Thrash Arsenal 2-0

Arsenal's title hopes met with setbacks when West Ham humbled them 2-0 in the Emirates Stadium on Friday. Tomas Soucek's goal in the 13th minute put West Ham in the lead and the 55th-minute goal of Konstantinos Mavropanos gave them an inevitable advantage which was more than enough for the Gunners as they were unable to score a single goal in the match.

7:53 AM: AUS Vs PAK, 2nd Test, Day 4 - Updates

Australia set 317-run target for Pakistan

After bundling out Australia for 262 runs in the 2nd innings, Pakistan started the chase of a moderate target of 317 runs on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Mir Hamza and Shaheen Afridi took four wickets each whereas, Aamir Jamal took a brace. Pakistan have lost the wicket of Abdullah Shafique early and Captain Shan Masood along with Imam-Ul-Haq are taking the Pakistan team forward at the moment in MCG.