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Italian Serie A to resume despite Covid surge
Notably, one out of every ten players in Serie A are COVID-19 positive but the Italian league will go ahead with their key fixtures including the third-placed Napoli taking on No. 5 Juventus, while AC Milan will face AS Roma on Thursday. Serie A has decided to go full steam ahead, prioritising the games completed rather than postponing them and risking fixture congestion later on.
Australia rejects Djokovic's visa
In a tweet on Thursday morning, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote: "Mr Djokovic's visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant."
Carabao Cup: Arsenal vs Liverpool semi-final first leg postponed due to COVID-19
"The first leg of the Carabao (League) Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Liverpool scheduled for Thursday 6 January 2022 has been postponed following a formal request by Liverpool due to a severe outbreak of COVID infections amongst their management and playing staff," the EFL said in a statement.
ISL 2021-22: Hyderabad FC hold ATK Mohun Bagan, share points
Mohun Bagan's David Williams scored for the team but Javier Siverio's late strike ensured Hyderabad FC moved to the top of the table after a rip-roaring encounter. Williams, playing ahead of Roy Krishna who started on the bench, took just 12 seconds to score before Bartholomew Ogbeche continued his goalscoring spree with an equaliser in the 18th minute. An own goal from Asish Rai (64th) almost poured cold water on Hyderabad's hopes of going top of the tree before substitute Siverio flicked a loopy ball inside the box into the goal.
PKL 8: Dabang Delhi KC prevail over Telugu Titans
The star raider Naveen Kumar scored 25 points for Delhi, who were lucky to come out with a win after Titans' Rajnish founding gaping holes in the defence. The Telugu raider scored 20 points for the side. The result helped Delhi maintain their unbeaten run in Season 8 and regain the top spot on the points table.
SA v IND, 2nd Test: It was one of those days where everything was going as per my plan, says Pujara
He added that his partnership of 111 runs with Ajinkya Rahane was crucial for the team to get some runs on board. Pujara was the second top-run scorer in India's second innings score of 266, which helped set a target of 240 for South Africa. "Looking at the pitch, it has variable bounce and it's not easy. Whenever you get a loose ball, you want to make sure that you put it away because you never know when you will get an unplayable ball. So, yes, it was part of my gameplan that if I get a loose ball, I will go to try and convert it."
IND vs SA, 2nd Test: Shardul registers best bowling figures for India against South Africa
The spectacular bowling figures of 7/61 by Shardul are now the best by an Indian bowler against South Africa in cricket's longest format. He broke Ravichandran Ashwin's record of 7/66, which the off-spinner had claimed in Nagpur in 2015. Another spinner Harbhajan Singh, who recently retired from all forms of cricket, held the record for the best figures by an Indian in South Africa when he took 7/120 in Cape Town in 2011.
Bangladesh secure historic eight-wicket win over New Zealand in 1st Test
Records tumbled in Tauranga as Bangladesh dominated the day, claiming 12 vital World Test Championship points as the tourists clinched their first win against New Zealand in New Zealand in any format of the game. This was arguably Bangladesh's finest Test win, with the tourists breaking the hosts' -- who are the reigning World Test champions -- 17-match unbeaten streak at home.
European football turns into game of luck due to growing COVID-19 cases
This season's tight international schedule might have to be restructured as cancelled games need to be repeated later in 2022. But the Qatar World Cup in November and December and the Nations League next summer don't leave space for alternative dates. Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp spoke about a gamble. Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez talked about unfair competition.
SA v IND, 2nd Test: Gutsy Elgar leads the way as South Africa require 122 runs to win
With two days left in the match, South Africa need 122 runs to level the series while India look for eight wickets to script their maiden series victory in the 'Rainbow Nation'. Resuming from 34/0 at tea, Aiden Markram continued his nice nick from the second session, driving Shardul Thakur through point. But Thakur bounced back by rapping Markram on pads twice for lbw calls and then beating him on the fifth ball. Thakur closed the over by trapping Markram lbw with a nip-backer and smashing his back leg.
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