World Sports: Pathum Nissanka Hits Sri Lanka's First ODI Double Ton; Sumit Nagal Enters Semifinals Of Chennai Open - As It Happened

Legendary South African batter AB de Villiers has said that he "made a terrible mistake" by sharing "false information" about the personal reasons that have forced star India batter Virat Kohli to take a break from international cricket, adding that he has no idea "what's happening there". On his Youtube channel a few days ago, de Villiers had said that Kohli opted out of the first two Tests of the ongoing home series against England due to the impending arrival of his second child with actor wife Anushka Sharma.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell has won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first T20I in Hobart. For the Aussies, David Warner stood in for Mitchell Marsh, who is playing despite being COVID-positive, at the toss. Warner thus became the first Australian to play 100 internationals in each format of the game.

West Indies playing XI: Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shai Hope, Rovman Powell (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.

Australia playing XI: David Warner, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Hazlewood.

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bowl first for the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Friday, February 9, 2024. The visiting team are missing the services of talismanic spin-bowling all-rounder Rashid Khan, who is still recovering from a back surgery and hasn't played any professional cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Afghanistan playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad.

Sri Lanka playing XI: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka.

David Warner proved he still has the explosive firepower that made him one of the most dangerous batters in world cricket, as he smashed a 36-ball 70 against West Indies in the first T20I to power the hosts to a formidable 213-run total in Hobart. Tim David played a handy knock lower down the order, remaining unbeaten on 37 off just 17 balls as the Aussies sent Rovman Powell's team on a leather hunt. The Windies too have some big hitters, however, so the chase could be interesting. Stay tuned.

The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is set to launch the franchise-based Rugby Premier League (RPL), acting on its stated objective of spreading the sport in the country. The league will feature some of the best 7s rugby talent internationally as well as from India, PTI reports. The league to be played in the 7s format of the sport is slated to be held in September this year and will feature six teams in its inaugural season.

West Indies lived up to their T20 batting reputation, firing major salvos and getting close to the massive 214-run target in front of them, before falling short by 11 runs. Openers Brandon King and Johnson Charles mounted a strong 89-run partnership to set the tone, but wickets kept falling regularly post that. Adam Zampa was the wrecker-in-chief for the hosts, with three crucial breakthroughs. Jason Holder made a valiant effort in the end, staying unbeaten on 34 off just 15 balls, but it was not enough to take them over the line. With the win in Hobart, Australia now lead the three-match series 1-0.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic winner, believes she "owes" it to her family to retire following the 2024 Games. The 37-year-old is recognised as one of the best sprinters of all time, having won the 100m championship in both 2008 and 2012.

Fraser-Pryce, a Jamaican, also won the Tokyo 2020 Olympic relay gold medal, as well as three of her ten world medals, in her comeback from giving birth to her son in 2017.

One of France's leading fencers has been suspended following an “abnormal” doping test result, less than six months before Paris hosts the Olympic Games. Ysaora Thibus, who is a three-time Olympian in fencing, has won the team foil silver medal at the last Olympics in Tokyo. She was the individual world champion in foil in 2022.

Sri Lankan opener batter Pathum Nissanka slammed the nation's first double century in the one-day internationals in the first ODI against Afghanistan on Friday. He broke legend cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya's previous record of 189 runs in an ODI inning and made 210 not out off 139 balls. 

According to a PTI report, the selection trials for picking the Indian wrestling team for the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers and Asian Championships will be held on March 10-11 in Patiala and Sonipat respectively, the ad-hoc committee managing the sport said on Friday.

The trials were initially planned for February 27-29 but got postponed after a delay in hosting the senior national championships due to "unavoidable circumstances".

India's top shot putter Karanveer Singh and discus thrower Kirpal Singh were among several athletes across sports who were handed bans for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) Disciplinary panel, according to PTI reports.

List of other athletes handed bans:

Malak Singh (rower; mephentermine): 4-year ban from June 27, 2023.

Akshay: (Judoka; methandienone): 4-year ban from May 2, 2023.

Hardeep Singh Brar (Judoka; SARMS LGD-4033, SARMS enobosarm): 4-year ban from June 20, 2023.

Mohsin Gulab Ali: (Judoka; SARMS enobosarm): 4-year ban from June 20, 2023.

Rahul Sevta: (Judoka; oxandrolone and stanozolol): 4-year ban from June 20, 2023.

Rohit Singh Tomar: (Kabaddi; metandienone): : 4-year ban from June 5, 2023.

Durgesh Kumar: (Kabaddi; metandienone): 4-year ban from June 9, 2023.

Ranjeet Bhati (Para-athletics; dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone): 4-year-ban from June 5, 2023.

Gokulam Kerala FC turned the Indian Women's League title race on its head with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Odisha FC at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode on Friday.

Despite making a dream start at the home of the defending champions with a goal inside 23 seconds, Odisha FC were unable to deal with the firepower of Fazila Ikwaput, who netted a first-half brace to take the Malabarians to the top of the table for the first time this season.

A minimum of three-match Test series and the home team footing the bill of the visiting side in a bilateral contest are some of the recommendations made by the MCC's World Cricket Committee, according to a PTI report.

The World Cricket Committee of Marylebone Cricket Club, the custodians of laws of the game, met in Cape Town last week on the sidelines of SA20.

India's top-ranked tennis player Sumit Nagal defeated unseeded Dominik Palan of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3 to advance into the semi-final of the Chennai Open in Chennai on Friday.

The second-seeded Nagal will face third seed Dalibor Svrcina of the Czech in his semi-final on Saturday.

Burkina Faso will replace coach Hubert Velud “as soon as possible” following the team's disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The Burkinabe Football Federation said Friday that its executive committee had decided the day before not to renew Velud's contract. It did not name a successor.

Gujarat Giants edged closer to a playoff berth after securing a 41-32 win over Bengal Warriors in the Pro Kabaddi League in Kolkata on Friday. With the win, the Giants moved to the fourth spot in the standings with 60 points from 19 games. Maninder Singh ensured some raid points initially, as the Warriors led 5-3 in the fifth minute. While Fazel Atrachali conducted a brilliant tackle on Nitin Kumar, the Warriors still managed to lead at 6-4 in the eighth minute.

According to PTI reports, India's quartermiler Nirmala Sheoran has been handed an eight-year ban by National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) Disciplinary Panel after she returned positive for a banned substance in a test conducted last year. The 28-year-old Sheoran had returned to competition during the National Inter-State Championships in June last year in Bhubaneswar after serving a four-year ban for a dope offence in 2018.

Indian women produced a flawless effort to outwit United States 3-1 and end this leg of the Hockey Pro League on a winning note in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Vandana Katariya (9th), Deepika (26th), and Samila Tete (56th) scored for the home side, while Sanne Caarls (42nd) netted the consolation goal for the USA. India started the game with an opportunity to score through a penalty corner but Deepika’s drag-flick sailed wide of the post.

Opening batter Pathum Nissanka scored Sri Lanka's first double century in a one-day international as they held off Afghanistan by 42 runs in a high-scoring match on Friday. Nissanka's unbeaten 210 from 139 balls propelled Sri Lanka to 381-3. Afghanistan boldly chased with centuries by Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi but finished on 339-6.

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in a close encounter in Pallekele as Pathum Nissanka hits the first double century of the country in the ODIs. Sumit Nagal proceeds to Semifinals of Chennai Open 2024. India women beat USA women 3-1 in FIH Pro League fixture. Australia defeated West Indies in first T20I match and Quartermiler Nirmala Sheoran was banned for 8 years by NADA.

Untill then, goodnight from all of us here!