The week that was
◆ On Sunday, Virat Kohli scored his 28th Test hundred, and his century reminded cricket fans of Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 against the Brett Lee-led Australian attack at Sydney in 2004. Kohli looked less like himself and more like Tendulkar. The knock on Sunday was worth the 40-month wait, as Kohli smiled at the end of it all. Motera has seen some major milestones over the years, with Sunil Gavaskar’s 10 000th run and Kapil Dev’s then world record 432nd Test wicket, and Kohli’s century is set to join that list. ◆ Arsenal secured their fifth straight victory in the league by beating Fulham. Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard scored the first-half goals that helped Arsenal regain a five-point lead at the top of the table. ◆ Mumbai Indians continued their winning streak as they sauntered to an eightwicket win over UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League. Harmanpreet Kaur played an unbeaten 53 and was supported by Nat Sciver-Brunt, who scored 45 off 31 balls, forging a 106-run partnership to secure victory in 17.3 ◆ Liverpool Football Club has reportedly entered the race to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, whose market value is estimated at £60 million. The interest in the Portuguese player has been on the rise in recent times, with several top clubs vying for his signature. Palhinha, 26, has been in superb form for Fulham this season, and his performances have not gone unnoticed. He is known for his versatility and ability to play in different midfield positions, making him a valuable asset to any team. According to reports, Liverpool is keen to add Palhinha to their midfield options and is willing to pay the £60m valuation to secure his services. The Reds have overs. Saika Ishaque (3/33) led Mumbai Indians’ fightback with the ball, derailing UP Warriorz after they looked set to register a competitive total. ◆ Manchester United secured a 0-0 draw with last-place Southampton after Casemiro was sent off again. The Brazil midfielder was sent off in the 34th minute for a studs-up challenge on Carlos Alcaraz, earning him his second sending-off of the season. He will now have to serve a four-match ban. ◆ India pacer Mohammed Siraj opened up about the emotional battle he fought after losing his father during the Australia tour, saying that he would often cry in his room while staying inside the Covid-19induced bio-bubble. Siraj lost his father,
been tracking the player’s progress for some time and have now joined the likes of Manchester United, Paris SaintGermain, and Bayern Munich in the race to sign him. ◆ As the 6 Nations Rugby tournament draws to a close, excitement is building for the upcoming fixtures on March 18. With only three games left, the teams are gearing up for the final push in the competition.
The first match of the day sees Scotland take on Italy at 2.30pm, with both teams eager to secure a win. Scotland, who have had a mixed tournament so far, will be looking to end on a high note, while Italy will be hoping to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table.
The second match of the day is the highly-anticipated clash between France and Wales at 4:45pm. Both teams are in contention for the championship title, and this match could be the decider.
Mohammed Ghaus after a brief illness in November 2020, while he was in Australia. Siraj couldn’t attend his father’s funeral due to the quarantine restrictions that were in place due to the pandemic. Siraj’s fiancé and former India fielding coach R Sridhar provided him with moral support. Siraj also recollected how then head coach Ravi Shastri had supported and encouraged him. ◆ Egyptian football star and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has fallen victim to a burglary in his Cairo villa while he was away in England. According to local media reports, thieves stole TV receivers from inside the house, and police investigations are still ongoing. Fortunately, no one was inside the villa at the time of the incident, and no jewellery was taken.
The news of the burglary comes as Salah prepares to return to his home country for an upcoming national team game against Malawi in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The 30-year-old is due
France, who are currently at the top of the table, will be looking to maintain their position, while Wales will be aiming to secure a victory and close the gap. The final match of the day sees Ireland take on England at 7pm. Both teams have had a disappointing tournament and will be eager to end on a high note. With pride at stake, this match promises to be an intense and hard-fought battle. ◆ Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have affirmed its commitment to retaining the services of striker Harry Kane, amid growing interest from other top clubs. The London-based club is determined to extend Kane’s contract, even if negotiations take longer than expected, according to a report in The Athletic. While initial discussions have already taken place between the club and the player's representatives, no advanced talks have commenced yet. Nevertheless, Spurs remain resolute in to lead the team in a double-header, with a home game on March 24, followed by an away match four days later. Despite the unfortunate incident, Salah’s fans continue to show their support and are eagerly awaiting his return to Egypt. The incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of security measures, even for high-profile individuals such as Salah. ◆ Erica Herman, former girlfriend of golfing legend Tiger Woods, has launched legal action in a Florida state court seeking to nullify a non-disclosure agreement she signed in 2017. The agreement was signed when the couple began dating and prevents Herman from disclosing any details of their relationship. Herman cited a recent law that limits the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment and assault cases as the basis for her challenge. In the civil complaint filed on Monday in Martin County, Herman argued that the agreement is “invalid and unenforceable”, but she
their determination to keep the England captain at the club and are "not even considering a sale" at the moment. ◆ In a shocking move, the French Football Federation has fired the women’s national team coach, Corinne Diacre, just months before the Women's World Cup. The decision came after several top players refused to play under her leadership, citing issues with her management style. The federation had initially stood by Diacre, despite the growing rift between her and the team. However, with tensions escalating, the decision was made that the divide “has reached a point of no return”. ◆ The world’s fastest street circuit is all set to host the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this week, promising to deliver breathtaking action for racing did not accuse Woods of any specific wrongdoing in the court documents. The legal action is the latest twist in the complex personal life of Woods, who has faced several scandals and public controversies throughout his career. It remains to be seen how the court will rule on Herman’s challenge to the nondisclosure agreement, and what impact it may have on Woods’ reputation and public image. ◆ Former Formula One champion Jenson Button is set to make his return to the starting grid, this time for three NASCAR Cup races, fulfilling a childhood dream that was sparked by his fascination with the Hollywood movie Days of Thunder. Button, who has long expressed his love for American stock car racing, will finally have the chance to race on the iconic tracks of Watkins Glen, Indianapolis, and Sonoma. He has been signed by team owner Tony Stewart to drive the #14 Chevrolet
enthusiasts. With reigning world champion Max Verstappen off to a strong start in Bahrain, the rest of the field is looking to strike back in Jeddah. The race is expected to be a nail-biting affair, with the thrilling layout of the circuit ensuring plenty of drama and excitement. The drivers will have to navigate a challenging circuit, with high-speed straights, tight corners and unforgiving walls. ◆ St Francis Links in Eastern Cape is gearing up to host its first Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament, the SDC Championship. The focus is on presenting a golf course that is not only beautiful but also highly playable, according to St Francis Links CEO Jeff Clause. The tournament, from March 16-19, is expected to attract top golfers from around the world. With St Francis Links ranked fourth in the ◆ Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed that his Mercedes team did not listen to his feedback during the development of their 2023 car. In an interview, Hamilton expressed his disappointment and frustration, stating that he had made suggestions and provided valuable insights that were ignored by the team. ◆ Despite being one of the thousands of athletes who were forced to leave their homeland due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, hurdler Anna Ryzhykova remains resilient and determined to represent her country on the track. Ryzhykova, who is currently training abroad, sees her performances on the track as a way to fight for her homeland and make her fellow Ukrainians proud. She is among an estimated 40 000 athletes from various sports who have had to flee their country to continue their training and compete in international competitions. The conflict in Ukraine has created numerous challenges for Ryzhykova and other athletes, including the lack of proper training facilities and financial support. However, Ryzhykova remains determined to succeed and is grateful for the opportunity to compete at the highest level. ◆ Jessica Pegula continues to rise in the ranks of women’s tennis, but the world no 3 still finds it strange to think of herself as a top player. Despite her career-high ranking, the 29-year-old feels no additional pressure to perform, and is taking it one match at a time. She has reached the quarter-finals at four of the last five Grand Slams, but has yet to make it to the semis.
country, the competition promises to be intense, and fans can expect a thrilling spectacle. ◆ Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has taken to social media to share a series of workout photos with a cryptic message in the aftermath of Al-Nassr’s defeat to Saudi Pro League title rivals Al-Ittihad. Despite captaining his new club, Ronaldo and his team suffered their second loss in Jeddah since he arrived in Saudi Arabia. The defeat saw Al-Ittihad leapfrog Al-Nassr into the top spot in the league table. With just one point separating the two teams, Ronaldo stressed the need for focus on the upcoming matches to secure the title. The former Manchester United player’s post has sparked speculation about the message behind his workout photos, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his next move.