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David Warner should at least be allowed to lead a domestic side, urges Sixers coach Shipperd

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Big Bash League (BBL) side Sydney Sixers coach Greg Shipperd has requested Cricket Australia (CA) to allow charismatic cricketer David Warner to at least lead the domestic side, given that he had diligently served his ban post the ‘sandpaper-gate scandal’ and had been “making a great contribution to the team and to cricket in general across the globe”.

Warner, along with then skipper Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, was banned from all forms of cricket for a year after the ‘sandpaper-gate scandal’ during the Test series in South Africa. While Smith was allowed to get back to leadership roles post serving the one-year ban, Warner, while being allowed to play, was barred from captaining any side.

Shipperd said that with the dwindling crowds in the BBL, CA should look at the option of overturning the ban, which bars Warner from leading a side, so that he can captain the Sixers in the upcoming edition of the BBL.

“I think David has served his penance,” Shipperd said on SEN 1170 Mornings on Friday. “He’s back in the Australian team and making a great contribution to the team and to cricket in general across the globe.

“He’s a leader without the tag and I’m sure that’s part of the process to bring him back into the fold (of domestic cricket and the Big Bash). I say press the go button there,” said Shipperd.

One of the reasons for BBL losing its attraction is the lack of big Australian cricketers, who miss out due to a packed international schedule and Covid-19 regulations and bio-bubbles.

Shipperd felt that BBL should tweak its player replacement model, as the current rules prevented players like Steve Smith from returning for the Sixers during the business end of the previous season of Australia’s premier domestic event.

“I think simplifying the mechanisms (is the way to go) and to flip the replacement player process on its head,” he said. “Fill the final player in the team with a young player who comes in as the 15th player, signs a contract but knows he is attached to Steve Smith.

“If Smith is available for our team to play, then the player gets bumped into a replacement. We are developing a young player but Steve Smith is being marketed and if available, will be playing for the Sydney Sixers.

“Same applies for a Josh Hazlewood, a David Warner, a Pat Cummins or a Cam Green and those players around the country who are in that Australian all-format bracket.”

International

‘I’m happy here’: Cristiano Ronaldo pledges to continue at Al Nassr in Saudi Pro League

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Portugese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to continue at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia despite walking away empty handed in this season. The 38-year-old has earmarked the tournament to be among the top five in the world.

Ronaldo, who signed a two and a half year contract with Al Nassr, scored 14 goals in 16 games in the season, with his side standing second behind Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro league. However, there were speculations about how long will he stay as reports of swap deal with Saudi-owned Newcastle United emerged, who have now qualified for next season’s Champions league.

In an official Saudi Pro League interview, the star footballer revealed:

“I’m happy here, I want to continue here, I will continue here. And in my opinion, if they continue to do the work that they want to do here, for the next five years, I think the Saudi league can be a top five league in the world. I expected to win something this year, but we didn’t, but next year I’m really positive, but next year I’m really positive and confident that things will change and we go in a better way.”

Cristiano Ronaldo suggests he is still adjusting to strange training timings in Saudi Arabia:

Ronaldo also revealed how contrasting the training timings in Europe and Saudi Arabia are, elaborating:

“In Europe, we train more in the morning, but here we train in the afternoon or evening and in Ramadan, we train at 10 at night. So this is strange but as I tell you, these situations are part of an experience, memories. I like to live these moments because you learn with these things.”

With 837 goals in 512 games, Ronaldo is the combined highest goal scorer in history.

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Lionel Messi to leave PSG at the end of the season, confirms club manager Christophe Galtier

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Paris Saint Germain superstar Lionel Messi will leave the club at the end of the current season, manager Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday. Messi made 74 appearances for PSG in which he scored 32 goals and made 35 assists. In Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain has played 37 matches out of which they have won 27, lost six and drew four.

PSG had acquired Messi’s services two years ago in a record transfer deal after he left FC Barcelona in 2021.

Messi, who’s contract with PSG ends this season, is now being linked with with a move to Saudi Arabia while talk of a return to the Nou Camp has picked up in Spain in recent weeks.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner will play his final match for PSG against Clermont Foot on Saturday.

“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football,” Galtier said on Thursday. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”

Messi’s envious record

In the Spanish La Liga football competition, Lionel Messi has scored 474 goals in 520 matches. In the French Ligue 1, Messi has scored 22 goals in 57 matches.

The 35-year-old while playing for Football Club Barcelona has scored 672 goals in 778 games. While playing for Paris Saint-Germain he has scored 32 goals in 74 matches.

No plan to bring Messi back: Barca president

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta recently said that the club has re-established good relationships with Argentine legend Lionel Messi, but it would not pay any price to bring him back to the Camp Nou Stadium.

“I have spoken with Leo to somehow redirect the situation that occurred when I had to put the institution ahead of everything, including him, the best player in the world,” said Laporta in a Monday morning TV show.

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Mark Zuckerberg strikes gold against jiu jitsu fighters, posts pictures on Instagram

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In the past, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has appeared helpless in front of the US Congress where he has been slapped by fines, and fired 11,000 vulnerable employees after being hit by falling revenues. But outside the business arena where Meta is facing tough competition from TikTok and other rivals, Zuckerberg is a huge mixed martial arts fan.

Contrary to setbacks in the tech sector, the Facebook founder has tasted victory in jiu jitsu.

Striking gold, but in a different arena

  • The billionaire who has trained with UFC fighters, posted pictures after winning jiu jitsu matches for the first time.
  • The billionaire who tried his hand at martial arts, revealed that he won a gold medal in the Gi categroy and a silver medal in the No-GI category.
  • His post on Instagram received comments from UFC featherweight and bantamweight category champions, as well as jiu jitsu hall of fame member Bernardo Faria.

Competitive or short tempered?

  • The entrepreneur turned sportsperson, who also enjoys surfing, was seen getting into a heated argument after losing a contest during the tournament in California as well.
  • On the work front, Zuckerberg’s firm Meta also surprised the markets by bouncing back with strong earnings, after struggling with loss of ad revenue.
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