Sports World, January 4, 2024: Rafael Nadal Advances To QFs In Brisbane; Everton Meet Crystal Palace In FA Cup - As It Happened

India beat South Africa to level the series 1-1; the Men in Blue chased the 79-run target the Proteas had left for them with ease on Day 2, concluding one of the shortest Test matches in the country. Later in the day, Rafael Nadal played his round of 16 match at the Brisbane International, winning with ease. In the days that follow, the Dakar Rally will commence, followed by other big-ticket events, such as the Australian Open, the AFC Asian Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the U-19 World Cup. The build-up to those continues in the early days of the new year. Here's all that happened on January 4, 2024. (IND Vs RSA Scorecard | AUS Vs PAK Scorecard)

11:15pm: AFCON 2023 - All You Need To Know 

In a week, 24 of Africa's best national teams will battle past each other in an attempt to reach the summit first. The victor of this battle royale will be crowned the Africa Cup of Nations winner, a title currently held by Senegal following their triumph over Egypt two years ago. 

Here's all you need to know about the event. 

10:00pm: France Through To United Cup Semis

France beat Norway in the United Cup 2024 quarter-finals to join Poland and Australia in the last four. France will now play Poland in the penultimate round of the tournament, aiming to go all the way. 

Read the match report here. 

8:45pm: What's Up With Harmanpreet's Mouth Tape? 

The Indian women's national team captain is among a select few athletes to endorse the 'Mouth-Tape' endurance and wellness technique, joining the likes of Erling Haaland and Iga Swiatek. But what is the technique, and why does Harmanpreet employ it? 

Guest writer Annesha Ghosh explains.

7:30pm: Reguilon U-Turn, Sancho Loan - Manchester United Transfer News 

With the January football transfer window now open, teams are expected to be busy trying to add and remove players from their squad. Manchester United are among the teams making moves early on in the month, albeit ones that involve trimming the roster, rather than enhancing it. 

The Red Devils will send back Sergio Reguilon to Tottenham Hotspur, having signed him on loan from their Premier League rivals just six months earlier. More pertinently, however, the club has also sanctioned the departure of wantaway winger Jadon Sancho, who will rejoin former side Borussia Dortmund on loan. Sancho hasn't played for Manchester United since September after a public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag. 

6:00pm: Another Easy Win For India U-19

The young Indian cricket side looks in fine form ahead of this month's U-19 Cricket World Cup. Days after beating South Africa, the India U-19s beat Afghanistan in their Tri-Nation series by nine wickets. Limiting the opponents to just 88 runs in 33 overs, India chased the target in 12 overs, with Adarsh Singh racking up a 50+ score. 

5:00pm: ICC ODI Women's Player Of The Year 2023 Nominees Are In! 

Australia's Ashleigh Gardner, Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt, and New Zealand's Amelia Kerr will battle it out for the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year 2023 crown. 

3:30pm: Nadal Enters Brisbane QFs

Rafael Nadal is now into the quarter-finals of Brisbane International after a commanding win against Australia's Jason Kubler in the round of 16. He will face another Aussie Jordan Thompson in the last-eight stage. Read our report of today's match here.

3pm: Wrestling Controversy Rages On

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is unwilling to go down without a fight. The wrestling body, which has been suspended by the Union sports ministry, will challenge its suspension in court next week and has also summoned an executive committee meeting in New Delhi on January 16 to discuss the next steps. 

2:20pm: IND U-19 Vs AFG U-19 Update

The India colts are taking on Afghanistan in a tri-nation Under-19 series, ahead of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup later this month. In the fourth match of the series today, which features South Africa as the third team, the Indian bowlers have Afghanistan tottering at 19/4 currently.

2:15pm: Finch To Retire From BBL After This Season

Former Australia T20I captain Aaron Finch will bring his illustrious T20 career to an end as he announced his retirement from the Big Bash League at the end of the current season with Melbourne Renegades. Though Finch's announcement only relates to the BBL, an ESPNcricinfo report suggests that he is unlikely to play in any mainstream leagues overseas but may continue to take part in legends tournaments. Finch had recently indicated in an interview with Channel 7 that this would likely be his final BBL season.

1:35pm: Dhananjaya De Silva Is New SL Captain

Sri Lanka's chief Selector Upul Tharanga has confirmed that Dhananjaya de Silva will replace Dimuth Karunaratne as their Test captain, and thus become the 18th player from his country to lead in Tests. Karunaratne had held the post for 30 Tests, winning 12, losing 12 and drawing six games. 

12:55pm: ICC Alters Stumping Rule

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has effected a notable change in playing conditions, as per which the umpires henceforth will only assess the side-on replays for stumping without considering the caught-behind scenario during the Decision Review System (DRS) referrals. The modification has come into effect on December 12, 2023 and accordingly if a team wants to refer to caught-behind in the process of a stumping, it will now have to exercise a DRS option for the caught-behind appeal separately.

11:45am: Stumps In Sydney

Play has officially been called off in Sydney due to bad light and intermittent rain, with Australia batting at 116/2 after 47 overs in reply to Pakistan's 313 in the first innings. Play will start half an hour earlier on the third day, weather permitting. 

10:25am: Barranquilla Stripped Of Pan American Games 2027 Hosting Rights

The Colombian city of Barranquilla has been stripped of its rights to host the next edition of the Pan American Games in 2027. Panam Sports, the executive body that organizes the largest multi-sports event in the Americas, said in a statement it made the decision after the city failed once more to comply with its contractual obligations. Read more here.

8:52am: AUS Vs PAK Update

After 47 overs in the second innings, play has been stopped due to bad light in Sydney. Australia are batting at 116/2 in response to Pakistan's 313. They have lost both their openers - Usman Khawaja and the retiring David Warner - but are in a reasonable position thanks to a steady start. Their middle-order mainstays Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are at the crease, looking to consolidate.