Kohli closes in on Smith in ICC Test rankings

Dubai

Virat Kohli (in pic) reached within one point of top-ranked Steve Smith in the Test batsmen rankings. Opener Mayank Agarwal also rose in the rankings, breaking into the top-20. His innings of 108 in the second Test against South Africa helped him progress eight places to reach the 17th position. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, at fourth and ninth places, respectively, are the other two Indian batsmen in the top-10. Ravichandran Ashwin also jumped three spots to No. 7 while Jasprit Bumrah continued to remain third in the bowlers’ rankings. Among the all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja is at No. 2 behind Jason Holder.

Ahmedabad

Bengaluru edge out UP to enter PKL semifinals

Pawan Sehrawat did the star turn as defending champions Bengaluru Bulls outwitted UP Yoddha 48-45 in the first eliminator to qualify for the semifinals of the Pro Kabaddi League. Haryana Steelers fought hard but went down 38-46 against U Mumba in the second eliminator.  

Dubai

ICC readmits Zimbabwe,  Nepal as members

ICC decided to readmit Zimbabwe and Nepal as its members following the conclusion of the board meetings. Zimbabwe and Nepal were suspended in July this year following government interference in the running of the board.  

Paris

European Tour announces mixed gender event in Sweden

The first European Tour golf tournament featuring men and women competing against each other on the same course for the same prize will take place in Sweden next year. The inaugural Scandinavian mixed event, hosted by Swedish Major winners Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam, will be held in June 2020, with 78 men and 78 women battling it out for a $1.66 million prize. — Agencies

Bengaluru

Fouaad wins gold at Olympics qualifying event 

India's double Asian Games silver medallist Fouaad Mirza bagged the top honours at an Olympics qualifying equestrian event in Strzegom, Poland. Mirza is currently the highest-ranked individual in Group G for Asia Pacific Zone, with 34 points on one horse, Fernhill Facetime, 30 points on the second horse, Touchingwood, and at present qualifying his third horse, Dajara. Mirza started the week with a solid dressage score of 26.8 which placed him second. This was followed by the showjumping event, in which Mirza maintained the second position with a clear round. He finished the deciding cross-country round in four seconds over time, leading him to the gold.

Los Angeles

US boxer extremely critical after devastating knockout

American boxer Patrick Day was fighting for his life in critical condition in hospital on Sunday night after lapsing into a coma following a vicious knockout by Charles Conwell the night before in a super welterweight bout. The 27-year-old suffered a "traumatic injury" and underwent emergency brain surgery Saturday night.

Paris

Neymar sidelined for four weeks, confirm PSG  

Neymar (in pic) will be out for four weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered playing for Brazil in a friendly against Nigeria, French club PSG said today. He had limped off in the 12th minute on Sunday.

Lausanne

Court sets date for Chinese swimming champ Sun Yang  

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has given Chinese Olympics and world champion swimmer Sun Yang, accused of smashing a doping test sample with a hammer, a November court date, swimming's governing body said Monday.

Paris

Teenager Gauff climbs to 71 after maiden win in Linz  

American prodigy Coco Gauff continued her rise up the ranks of women's tennis on Monday when the WTA rankings showed a climb of 39 places to No. 71 in the world. agencies

Mumbai

Media Rights War: ICC wants flagship event every year, BCCI says no

The new BCCI regime could soon be engaged in a bitter turf battle with the ICC since the world governing body’s proposed Futures Tours Programme could significantly hit Indian cricket board’s revenue stream. The new proposal calls for the World T20 to be held every year and the 50-overs World Cup every three years, which is being perceived as ICC’s plan to enter the global media rights markets for the 2023-2028 period before BCCI and exhaust the lion’s share of revenues from potential broadcasters such as Star Sports. This will be one of the major challenges the Sourav Ganguly-Jay Shah regime will face immediately after assuming office. — PTI