Latest National and International Sports News Today Transcript at 4:30 PM on 21 November 2023
In some cricket news. Virat Kohli won the best fielder award for his brilliant fielding in the World Cup final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 19th November. Kohli scored 765 runs and picked up one wicket and was named ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 player of the tournament. Team India fielding coach T Dilip consoled the dressing room later after India’s six-wicket loss in the final. He said in a video posted by the BCCI.Tv. – “I know it’s tough and we’ll feel the pain but that’s what it is. “I appreciate and thank every player in this group who has committed to the practice sessions. I couldn’t ask more than this. Well done!”
Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine lauded Pat Cummins for his leadership and decision-making in the 2023 ODI World Cup final triumph against India on Sunday, November 19th. Cummins would induce a loud cheer around the one lakh-plus capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, as he won the toss and opted to field first. But Paine elaborated that Cummins was on the button right from the word go. Paine told SEN Tassie – “When we won the toss I think Pat Cummins shocked everyone a bit with the call to bowl first. Bowling first was the first call. Then when we were bowling, you could see the homework that went into it.”
Meanwhile, days after failing to help lead Pakistan to the semifinals of the Cricket World Cup, Babar Azam gave up his captaincy. Within hours of Babar making his decision public, the PCB responded by appointing Shan Masood as the Test captain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the T20I skipper. After the appointment, there was speculation about the role of Shahid Afridi in the decision. Shaheen is the son-in-law of Shahid, having tied the knot with Shahid’s daughter, Ansha, earlier in the year. Afridi said while speaking on Samaa TV – “I always have been in the favour of Mohammad Rizwan. I never talked about making Shaheen the captain, nor did I ever lobby. I am not involved in these things.”
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said KL Rahul was not proactive enough during his 107-ball 66 in the World Cup final against Australia. Malik said on A Sports – “He has been taking a lot of responsibility when India loses quick wickets upfront. He went into a zone, where he only wanted to play the whole fifty overs. He should have been a little more proactive. He has played a lot of dot balls.” Misbah-ul-Haq also questioned the way KL Rahul played against the spinners. He told A Sports – “KL plays spin very well and we have seen it throughout the tournament. But today his approach was just waiting.”
Moving on to some badminton news. India’s top-ranked singles shuttler HS Prannoy went down in three games in an intense Round of 16 clash against former World No. 2 Chou Tien Chen at Japan Masters Super 500 in Kumamoto on Thursday, 16th November. Prannoy took the opening game but Chou fought back to clinch the match 19-21 21-16 21-19 in 73 minutes. The defeat marked the end of the Indian challenge at the event. Prannoy, who returned to action after missing a few events post-Asian Games due to a back injury, came into the match trailing 4-6 against Chou in the head-to-head record but had won three of their last five meetings.
In more badminton news. On Thursday, 16th November, the pair of Taarini Suri of Mumbai and Shravani Walekar of Nasik won their girls’ doubles second qualification round match 21-15, 21-3 against the pair of Bhakti and Ditya Jakhar of Haryana. They moved into the main draw of the Yonex Sunrise 30th Smt Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking prize money tournament being organised by Express Shuttle Club Trust at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex. Walekar told indianexpress.com post-win – “We had not thought about competing in the doubles event before our coaches met and decided to pair us together seeing each one’s respective strengths. It has worked for us.”
Meanwhile, in some football news. Premier League club Everton was on Friday, 17th November deducted 10 points for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules in the 2021-22 season which led to them going down the league table from 14th to 19th position in the ongoing season. The Premier League said in a statement after its independent commission’s report -“During the proceedings, the club admitted it was in breach of the PSRs for the period ending season 2021/22 but the extent of the breach remained in dispute.” The club expressed their ‘shock and disappointment’ over the decision, saying that they found the sanction to be “unjust” and said they would appeal to the Premier League.
Lastly, in more football news. On late Thursday, 16th November, Mohun Bagan forward Manvir Singh was the holding man for the forward line and gave India the only goal of the game to make a winning start to their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier campaign. India beat Kuwait 1-0. The cheers became loud when India had the ball and even louder when Sahal Abdul Samad, the Indian attacking midfielder who played his formative years in Kuwait, had the ball. This was the third time both teams were meeting this year, with the first clash between the two known for its quality and the second for its fiery battle. India will face defending Champions Qatar in Bhubaneswar today, 21st November.