Justin Gatlin blasted out a warning that he is ready to challenge Usain Bolt's 100 metres hegemony when he stormed to a lifetime best 9.74 seconds to win the event in the opening Diamond League meeting of the season on Friday.
Spain snatched a 2-2 draw against Morocco on Monday to qualify for the World Cup last 16 and take top spot in Group B ahead of Portugal on goals scored.
While that may not differ too much from the scenario in many group stage matches pairing the big beasts of the game against those nations who occupy lower rungs of the FIFA rankings, the X-factor in Kazan could be Carlos Queiroz.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez declared himself delighted with a 3-0 win over World Cup debutants Panama but there were plenty of issues that will encourage England after their own winning start in Group G.
The BCCI president Anurag Thakur may have taken a tough stand against the resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties, but Pakistan's premier spinner Yasir Shah is keen on having a face-off with India's spin magician Ravichandran Ashwin. Shah became the joint-second fastest to 100 wickets in all Test cricket when he took 5 for 121 in his 17th match against West Indies in the first day-night Test in Dubai on Sunday.
Pacer Muhammad Irfan was, on Tuesday, suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board for being in touch with a suspected bookmaker, making him the third player to be charged in the ongoing probe of alleged corruption in the Pakistan Super League.
Anil Kumble along with Ravi Shastri was the front runner for the coach's job, which was left vacant since Duncan Fletcher's departure after the 50-overs World Cup last year in Australia.
The ICC approved Nasir Jamshed as a replacement for injured Mohammad Hafeez in Pakistan's squad for the World Cup, starting February 14.
The tourists were left on 20-2 after seven overs going into the second day.
All-rounder Soumya Sarkar has been rewarded for his strong domestic performance with a spot in Bangladesh's 15-man World Cup squad.
Arsenal enjoyed a 3-0 win in Azerbaijan against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday and AC Milan beat Greece's Olympiakos Piraeus 3-1 but Sevilla suffered a shock defeat by Russians Krasnodar.
'I am happy that we are not favourites'
The decision to introduce four-day Test was taken during a recent ICC board meeting in Auckland with South Africa and Zimbabwe set to play the inaugural four day 'Test' on Boxing Day.
Former captain Ricky Ponting said Aaron Finch and uncapped Marcus Harris should open the batting for Australia in the upcoming four-Test series against India.
The Swedes won a group containing world champions Germany before defeating Switzerland in the last 16, but England will be a step up.
Arjun Atwal ended a four-year title drought as he won the inaugural $ 500,000 Dubai Open at the Els Golf Club on Sunday.
Czech Karolina Pliskova stopped upset-maker Varvara Lepchenko in the semi-finals at the Bank of The West Classic in Stanford, California, on Saturday.
Graciously skirting the controversy surrounding the snub Ravi Shastri received during his job interview, the newly-appointed Indian coach Anil Kumble on Wednesday said it's the players who are the most significant part of the system and no one else.
The focus is once again shifting to the South American side's old foe - emotional stability.
The many moods of the fans at the World Cup in Russia
Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez once again faces a harrowing task of getting his action cleared after the off-spinner was called for chucking during the team's 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle.
Pace bowler Charl Langeveldt withdrew from the tour to India due to political interference in selection, the South African players' association (SACA) said on Wednesday. Langeveldt, who is mixed race, had been controversially included in the South African squad instead of fellow fast bowler Andre Nel to satisfy a racial target of six players of colour amongst the 14 players.
South Africa fast bowler Charl Langeveldt withdrew on Tuesday from next month's tour to India after his selection had caused controversy.
Batsman Darren Bravo has been dropped from the West Indies squad in Zimbabwe for a triangular one-day international series because of "unacceptable behaviour", the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said on Saturday.
An eight-wicket haul from West Indies' Devendra Bishoo breathed fresh life into the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, leaving his side with a faint chance of pulling off the unlikeliest of wins in the day-night contest.
Sri Lanka pace spearhead Lasith Malinga is recovering well from his ankle surgery and should be back in action during the later stages of the One-Day International series in New Zealand next month, according to coach Marvan Atapattu.
Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo frustrated Pakistan's bowlers with a defensive and patient batting display on a slow pitch but West Indies still trailed by 264 runs at the end of the third day of the first day-night Test in Dubai on Saturday.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday named fast bowler Monde Zondeki to replace Charl Langeveldt in the national squad for the three-match Test series against India starting on March 26.
Australia made the worst possible start to the defence of their Asian Cup crown on Sunday as Graham Arnold's Socceroos were handed a 1-0 defeat by unfancied Jordan.
Not even a lively performance from Lionel Messi - at least in the first half in St Petersburg - as they edged out Nigeria 2-1 to finish second in Group D will give their large travelling band of supporters in Russia much in the way of confidence.
'We made many changes, trying to create opportunities but the important thing today was the players were really brave. That courage made this result possible'
Mumbai Indians have been bolstered by the inclusion of Barbadian all-rounder Dwayne Smith in the squad following the departure of fellow-West Indian Dwayne Bravo, who has returned home after the team's victory over Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League match in Hyderabad on Sunday.
'After living in a country with hazy skies and a billion people, it is breathtaking when the sky is blue, the air crisply clean and there is drinking water in the taps. And, joy of joys, hardly any people.'
Pakistan were 140 for 4 in reply to South Africa's 357 in the first innings at close of play on day two of the second Test.
The FIFA World Cup at Russia saw a variety of celebrations -- from the weird to some fancy dance moves -- Rediff.com has got it all covered here...
India's golfer Aditi Ashok scripted another piece of history in her fast-rising career by clinching partial playing rights on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour with a tied 24th finish in the Qualifying Tournament in Florida.
Former Pakistan Test all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been offered the assistant coach's job with the national cricket squad, which is set to tour England this summer.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson scored 90 to lay the foundations for a 38-run victory over Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Friday which gave the Kiwis the three-match one-day international series 2-1.
India rung in two changes, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kaarthick coming in place of VRV Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni respectively, for the third Test against South Africa.
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