Following Chelsea's hurried sale in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine which forced Roman Ambramovic to sell the club, it has been widely reported&nbsp;that two of the most successful Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United are also up for a sale.&nbsp;

Ever since reports emerged that both Man United and the Liverpool FC owners are willing to sell the club, Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani has emerged as a strong contender to buy&nbsp;one of the two clubs. However, it is believed that Ambani is eyeing to buy the 13-time English champion Arsenal and not Man United or Liverpool.&nbsp;

At present, Arsenal's majority stakes are with the American-based Kroenke family (Kroenke Sports &amp; Entertainment company). The&nbsp;report has further revealed&nbsp;that Ambani's son Akash is a big fan of the current Premier League table toppers Arsenal and, hence, the industrialist might try really hard&nbsp;to take over the ownership.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-croatia-will-restrict-lionel-messi-from-having-the-best-game-of-his-life-in-sf-1-says-igor-stimac-542710">Exclusive: Croatia will restrict Lionel Messi from having the best game of his life in SF 1, says Igor Stimac</a>

"There is an increasing appetite in India for non-cricket investment opportunities in sport. This links to India's digital and entertainment economy. City Football Group invested in Mumbai, and Mumbai is the digital, entertainment and financial capital of India. If you look at some of the things Abu Dhabi's wealth fund is investing in, they have invested in digital start-ups in Mumbai. There is a sense India could be the next great frontier. We've already had China, and now we have Saudi Arabia," Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at the SKEMA Business School, said to Athletic.

Following Chelsea's hurried sale in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine which forced Roman Ambramovic to sell the club, it has been widely reported that two of the most successful Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United are also up for a sale.

Following Chelsea's hurried sale in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine which forced Roman Ambramovic to sell the club, it has been widely reported that two of the most successful Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United are also up for a sale. Ever since reports emerged that both Man United and the Liverpool FC owners are willing to sell the club, Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani has emerged as a strong contender to buy one of the two clubs. However, it is believed that Ambani is eyeing to buy the 13-time English champion Arsenal and not Man United or Liverpool. At present, Arsenal's majority stakes are with the American-based Kroenke family (Kroenke Sports & Entertainment company). The report has further revealed that Ambani's son Akash is a big fan of the current Premier League table toppers Arsenal and, hence, the industrialist might try really hard to take over the ownership. Also read: Exclusive: Croatia will restrict Lionel Messi from having the best game of his life in SF 1, says Igor Stimac "There is an increasing appetite in India for non-cricket investment opportunities in sport. This links to India's digital and entertainment economy. City Football Group invested in Mumbai, and Mumbai is the digital, entertainment and financial capital of India. If you look at some of the things Abu Dhabi's wealth fund is investing in, they have invested in digital start-ups in Mumbai. There is a sense India could be the next great frontier. We've already had China, and now we have Saudi Arabia," Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at the SKEMA Business School, said to Athletic.

Indian industralist Mukesh Ambani eyeing to buy THIS big Premier League club - Reports

Ferrari appointed Frenchman Frederic&nbsp;Vasseur&nbsp;as Formula One team principal and general manager on Tuesday, replacing Mattia Binotto whose resignation was announced last month. Vasseur's departure from Swiss-based Sauber, which runs the Alfa Romeo team, had been announced earlier. Ferrari said he would join them on Jan. 9.

"We are delighted to welcome Fred&nbsp;Vasseur&nbsp;to Ferrari as our team principal," said the Italian sportscar maker's chief executive Benedetto Vigna in a statement. "Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams.

"This approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with renewed energy." Vasseur, 54, will be Ferrari's fifth principal in less than a decade. His arrival also means three of the 10 teams will have new bosses next season, with Jost Capito's exit from Williams announced on Monday.

Ferrari enjoyed a golden era with seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher during a period of stability under the leadership of Frenchman Jean Todt from 1993-2007 but have not won a title since 2008. They finished distant runners-up to Red Bull this season. Vasseur&nbsp;and his compatriot Nicolas Todt, son of Jean and manager of Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, are close and founded the junior series ART racing team together.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-no-1-iga-swiatek-named-wta-player-of-the-year-542644">World No. 1 Iga Swiatek named WTA Player of the Year</a>

Stellantis-owned Alfa Romeo are due to end their sponsorship of Sauber at the end of 2023, with the team then becoming the Audi factory outfit from 2026. Vasseur&nbsp;said he was "truly delighted and honoured" to take over at Maranello.

"As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me," he said in the team statement. "I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our tifosi (fans) around the world." Ferrari's other driver is Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

Ferrari appointed Frenchman Frederic Vasseur as Formula One team principal and general manager on Tuesday, replacing Mattia Binotto whose resignation was announced last month.

Ferrari appointed Frenchman Frederic Vasseur as Formula One team principal and general manager on Tuesday, replacing Mattia Binotto whose resignation was announced last month. Vasseur's departure from Swiss-based Sauber, which runs the Alfa Romeo team, had been announced earlier. Ferrari said he would join them on Jan. 9. "We are delighted to welcome Fred Vasseur to Ferrari as our team principal," said the Italian sportscar maker's chief executive Benedetto Vigna in a statement. "Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams. "This approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with renewed energy." Vasseur, 54, will be Ferrari's fifth principal in less than a decade. His arrival also means three of the 10 teams will have new bosses next season, with Jost Capito's exit from Williams announced on Monday. Ferrari enjoyed a golden era with seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher during a period of stability under the leadership of Frenchman Jean Todt from 1993-2007 but have not won a title since 2008. They finished distant runners-up to Red Bull this season. Vasseur and his compatriot Nicolas Todt, son of Jean and manager of Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, are close and founded the junior series ART racing team together. Also read: World No. 1 Iga Swiatek named WTA Player of the Year Stellantis-owned Alfa Romeo are due to end their sponsorship of Sauber at the end of 2023, with the team then becoming the Audi factory outfit from 2026. Vasseur said he was "truly delighted and honoured" to take over at Maranello. "As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me," he said in the team statement. "I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our tifosi (fans) around the world." Ferrari's other driver is Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

Ferrari appoint Frechman Frederic Vasseur as Formula One team boss

Just two days before the IPL 2023 mini-auction, in Kochi, the BCCI apex council meet is set to take place on December 21 with a 12-point agenda. As per the information obtained from BCCI sources, Team India's T20 World Cup review, Rohit Sharma's captaincy future in the shortest format, and the annual central contracts 2022/23 are one of the top agendas of the meeting.&nbsp;

Among all the agendas, the venues for the upcoming home series are also set to be ratified. It is to be noted that the Rohit-led Indian team will commence 2023 with a white-ball series versus Sri Lanka, comprising three T20Is and ODIs each, which will be followed by equal number of T20Is and ODIs versus New Zealand beforer hosting Australia in a four-match Test series, i.e. part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and three ODIs prior to IPL 2023's commencement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-icc-world-test-championship-points-table-after-england-edge-past-pakistan-in-multan-542557">Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England edge past Pakistan in Multan</a>

One of the top agendas will remain the review of India's T20 WC campaign, in Australia, where the pre-tournament favourites bowed out with a ten-wicket loss versus eventual winners England in the second semi-final. Moreover, there are strong rumours of Hardik Pandya set to succeed Rohit as the new T20I captain whereas split captaincy-coaching has also made the headlines in recent times. Thus, more clarity is expected on these issues. It is to be seen if the new selection committee, which will succeed the Chetan Sharma-led panel, will be announced by then or after the meeting.

There will be some discussion regarding the forthcoming Women's IPL season as well. Thus, a lot of major developments are on the way in the upcoming apex council meet.

Just two days before the IPL 2023 mini-auction, in Kochi, the BCCI apex council meet is set to take place on December 21 with a 12-point agenda. As per the information obtained from BCCI sources, Team India's T20 World Cup review, Rohit Sharma's captaincy future in the shortest format, and the annual central contracts 2022/23 are one of the top agendas of the meeting.

Just two days before the IPL 2023 mini-auction, in Kochi, the BCCI apex council meet is set to take place on December 21 with a 12-point agenda. As per the information obtained from BCCI sources, Team India's T20 World Cup review, Rohit Sharma's captaincy future in the shortest format, and the annual central contracts 2022/23 are one of the top agendas of the meeting. Among all the agendas, the venues for the upcoming home series are also set to be ratified. It is to be noted that the Rohit-led Indian team will commence 2023 with a white-ball series versus Sri Lanka, comprising three T20Is and ODIs each, which will be followed by equal number of T20Is and ODIs versus New Zealand beforer hosting Australia in a four-match Test series, i.e. part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and three ODIs prior to IPL 2023's commencement. Also read: Updated ICC World Test Championship points table after England edge past Pakistan in Multan One of the top agendas will remain the review of India's T20 WC campaign, in Australia, where the pre-tournament favourites bowed out with a ten-wicket loss versus eventual winners England in the second semi-final. Moreover, there are strong rumours of Hardik Pandya set to succeed Rohit as the new T20I captain whereas split captaincy-coaching has also made the headlines in recent times. Thus, more clarity is expected on these issues. It is to be seen if the new selection committee, which will succeed the Chetan Sharma-led panel, will be announced by then or after the meeting. There will be some discussion regarding the forthcoming Women's IPL season as well. Thus, a lot of major developments are on the way in the upcoming apex council meet.

From Rohit's T20I captaincy to central contracts: BCCI apex council meet on Dec 21 with a 12-point agenda

World number one Iga Swiatek was crowned WTA Player of the Year for the first time in her career, while Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova were named Doubles Team of the Year, the governing body of the women's game said on Monday.

Poland's Swiatek went on a superb 37-match winning run and won the French and U.S. Opens as well as titles at Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome and San Diego. The 2020 Newcomer of the Year enjoyed a stellar 2022, as she won 67 matches overall and topped the list of finals reached and trophies won.

Krejcikova and doubles world number one Siniakova took the team honour for the second season in a row after winning titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Jessica Pegula's mentor David Witt was also recognised for his success, as he was voted by peers as the Coach of the Year after guiding her to number three in the rankings.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/peles-health-improving-but-no-forecast-for-hospital-discharge-reveal-doctors-542524">Pele's health improving but no forecast for hospital discharge, reveal doctors</a>

Pegula reached the first WTA 1000 final of her career at the Madrid Open and won the Guadalajara Open in addition to reaching the quarter-finals at three of the four Grand Slams. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur won the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, while China's Zheng Qinwen was named Newcomer of the Year after she climbed more than 100 places this year to reach a career-high ranking of 25.

Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil was named the Most Improved Player of the Year after breaking into the top 20. Germany's Tatjana Maria was named the Comeback Player of the Year after reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon after missing three majors last year due to the birth of her second daughter.

World number one Iga Swiatek was crowned WTA Player of the Year for the first time in her career, while Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova were named Doubles Team of the Year, the governing body of the women's game said on Monday.

World number one Iga Swiatek was crowned WTA Player of the Year for the first time in her career, while Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova were named Doubles Team of the Year, the governing body of the women's game said on Monday. Poland's Swiatek went on a superb 37-match winning run and won the French and U.S. Opens as well as titles at Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome and San Diego. The 2020 Newcomer of the Year enjoyed a stellar 2022, as she won 67 matches overall and topped the list of finals reached and trophies won. Krejcikova and doubles world number one Siniakova took the team honour for the second season in a row after winning titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Jessica Pegula's mentor David Witt was also recognised for his success, as he was voted by peers as the Coach of the Year after guiding her to number three in the rankings. Also read: Pele's health improving but no forecast for hospital discharge, reveal doctors Pegula reached the first WTA 1000 final of her career at the Madrid Open and won the Guadalajara Open in addition to reaching the quarter-finals at three of the four Grand Slams. Tunisia's Ons Jabeur won the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, while China's Zheng Qinwen was named Newcomer of the Year after she climbed more than 100 places this year to reach a career-high ranking of 25. Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil was named the Most Improved Player of the Year after breaking into the top 20. Germany's Tatjana Maria was named the Comeback Player of the Year after reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon after missing three majors last year due to the birth of her second daughter.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek named WTA Player of the Year

As per reports, the latest issue of ‘Batman: Urban Legends’—a monthly anthology series—has revealed that the Caped Crusader's longtime sidekick Robin is bisexual.

 
This development happened towards the end of part 3 of the ‘Sum of Our Parts’ story, when, during a rescue section, Bernard mentions to Robin that he wishes he could've finished his date with Tim, not knowing that he's actually speaking to his love interest.&nbsp;

 
A few pages in, Tim goes to see Bernard and he has a moment of clarity.

 
"Tim Drake… do you want to go on a date with me?" Bernard asks.

 
"Yeah… Yeah, I think I want that," Tim replies.

 
Robin is now officially an LGBTQIA character and has joined the likes of Kate Kane (Batwoman), Bobby Drake (Iceman), Loki, Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar), Billy Kaplan (Wiccan), Hulkling, Midnighter, and Apollo.

 
Earlier this year, Marvel had also introduced the first gay Captain America through the character of Aaron Fischer. 
&nbsp;

As per reports, the latest issue of ‘Batman: Urban Legends’—a monthly anthology series—has revealed that the Caped Crusader's longtime sidekick Robin is bisexual.

As per reports, the latest issue of ‘Batman: Urban Legends’—a monthly anthology series—has revealed that the Caped Crusader's longtime sidekick Robin is bisexual. This development happened towards the end of part 3 of the ‘Sum of Our Parts’ story, when, during a rescue section, Bernard mentions to Robin that he wishes he could've finished his date with Tim, not knowing that he's actually speaking to his love interest. A few pages in, Tim goes to see Bernard and he has a moment of clarity. "Tim Drake… do you want to go on a date with me?" Bernard asks. "Yeah… Yeah, I think I want that," Tim replies. Robin is now officially an LGBTQIA character and has joined the likes of Kate Kane (Batwoman), Bobby Drake (Iceman), Loki, Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar), Billy Kaplan (Wiccan), Hulkling, Midnighter, and Apollo. Earlier this year, Marvel had also introduced the first gay Captain America through the character of Aaron Fischer.

'Husband to a Superwoman': Shoaib Malik's Instagram bio goes viral amid divorce rumours with Sania Mirza

Team India has been a pale shadow of themselves in the Bangladesh ODIs. After losing the series opener, in defence of 187 in Dhaka, Rohit Sharma-led India went down in the second and penultimate ODI to lose by five runs and concede an unassailable 2-0 lead to the Bangla Tigers. With one game to go, to be held on Saturday (December 10) at Chattogram, 1983 World Cup-winning hero Madan Lal has slammed the team citing there is a lack of intensity and passion among players.&nbsp;

"Definitely the Indian team is not going in the right direction. I have not seen the intensity in the team of late. I have not seen 'Josh' in them in the last couple of years," Lal was quoted as saying by PTI. "They are not looking like an Indian team at all. That passion for playing for the country is missing. Either their bodies are too tired or they are just going through the motions. And this is a serious concern."

The former cricketer also slammed the seniors such as Rohit, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan for not making daddy hundreds and leading from the front. While Kohli regained form in T20Is, he hasn't done anything extraordinary in ODIs -- his most preferred format -- whereas Dhawan's strike rate has also gone down. It is to be noted that since the start of 2020; the trio&nbsp;have only one ton in ODI cricket combined -- coming from Rohit Sharma's blade in January 2020. Thus, Lal pointed out, "If you see the record, how many centuries they (seniors) have scored in the last three years? And how many in the last one year? With the age factor, your hand-eye coordination slows down. But they are experienced players, and they should have performed. If your top order does not perform, you are not going to win."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/injured-rohit-sharma-likely-to-miss-bangladesh-tests-abhimanyu-easwaran-to-replace-him-reports-541304">Injured Rohit Sharma likely to miss Bangladesh Tests, Abhimanyu Easwaran to replace him – Reports</a>

Madan Lal also cautioned India to change their approach and look for more specialists in white-ball format. "Every country is playing like that. Must have specialised cricketers for different formats. Why not have different players for different formats? All countries are doing it and India should also do the same," he added.

India will lock horns with Bangladesh in the third and remaining ODI on Saturday and look to avoid a whitewash at the hands of the Bangla Tigers. Captain Rohit is ruled out due to his thumb injury and a final report is awaited on his participation in the upcoming two Tests versus the Bangladeshi line-up, starting on December 14.

Team India has been a pale shadow of themselves in the Bangladesh ODIs. After losing the series opener, in defence of 187 in Dhaka, Rohit Sharma-led India went down in the second and penultimate ODI to lose by five runs and concede an unassailable 2-0 lead to the Bangla Tigers.

Team India has been a pale shadow of themselves in the Bangladesh ODIs. After losing the series opener, in defence of 187 in Dhaka, Rohit Sharma-led India went down in the second and penultimate ODI to lose by five runs and concede an unassailable 2-0 lead to the Bangla Tigers. With one game to go, to be held on Saturday (December 10) at Chattogram, 1983 World Cup-winning hero Madan Lal has slammed the team citing there is a lack of intensity and passion among players. "Definitely the Indian team is not going in the right direction. I have not seen the intensity in the team of late. I have not seen 'Josh' in them in the last couple of years," Lal was quoted as saying by PTI. "They are not looking like an Indian team at all. That passion for playing for the country is missing. Either their bodies are too tired or they are just going through the motions. And this is a serious concern." The former cricketer also slammed the seniors such as Rohit, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan for not making daddy hundreds and leading from the front. While Kohli regained form in T20Is, he hasn't done anything extraordinary in ODIs -- his most preferred format -- whereas Dhawan's strike rate has also gone down. It is to be noted that since the start of 2020; the trio have only one ton in ODI cricket combined -- coming from Rohit Sharma's blade in January 2020. Thus, Lal pointed out, "If you see the record, how many centuries they (seniors) have scored in the last three years? And how many in the last one year? With the age factor, your hand-eye coordination slows down. But they are experienced players, and they should have performed. If your top order does not perform, you are not going to win." Also read: Injured Rohit Sharma likely to miss Bangladesh Tests, Abhimanyu Easwaran to replace him – Reports Madan Lal also cautioned India to change their approach and look for more specialists in white-ball format. "Every country is playing like that. Must have specialised cricketers for different formats. Why not have different players for different formats? All countries are doing it and India should also do the same," he added. India will lock horns with Bangladesh in the third and remaining ODI on Saturday and look to avoid a whitewash at the hands of the Bangla Tigers. Captain Rohit is ruled out due to his thumb injury and a final report is awaited on his participation in the upcoming two Tests versus the Bangladeshi line-up, starting on December 14.

Passion of playing for country is missing: Madan Lal slams Team India after ODI series loss vs Bangladesh

Ahead of Portugal's quarter-final clash versus Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, on December 10 (Saturday), Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence and finally reacted to reports of him threatening to leave the national squad for being benched in Round of 16 tie, versus Switzerland. During Portugal's R16 match versus the Swiss, captain Ronaldo didn't feature in the starting XI and only made an appearance in the 73rd minute in his side's 5-1 victory courtesy of his&nbsp;replacement Gancalo Ramos' stunning treble.

On Friday (December 08), the 37-year-old Ronaldo took to his official Twitter handle and shared a post captioned, "A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary. A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!"

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Um grupo demasiado unido para ser quebrado por forças externas. Uma nação demasiado corajosa para se deixar atemorizar perante qualquer adversário. Uma equipa no verdadeiro sentido da palavra, que vai lutar pelo sonho até ao fim! Acreditem connosco! Força, Portugal!🇵🇹🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/gUeENXSB5F">pic.twitter.com/gUeENXSB5F</a>
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/1600839914719178753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-portugal-fa-reacts-to-rumours-of-cristiano-ronaldo-threatening-to-leave-squad-541324">FIFA World Cup: Portugal FA reacts to rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to leave squad</a>

Earlier, a&nbsp;statement from Portugal FA also backed Ronaldo by rubbishing claims against him,&nbsp;citing that he remains committed to the team as always. It&nbsp;read, "News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar."&nbsp;

"Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team. Incidentally, the degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated - if necessary - in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The National Team - players, coaches, and FPF structure - is, as it has been since the first day, fully committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best-ever participation in a World Cup," it added.

Ronaldo hasn't lived up to expectations in the ongoing edition so far. He, however, will hope to turn the tides in the upcoming games for the Portuguese line-up as the race for the final heats up with all big teams -- such as France, Brazil, Argentina, England, etc. -- still alive in the competition. Portugal take on Morocce in the quarters on Saturday.&nbsp;

Ahead of Portugal's quarter-final clash versus Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, on December 10 (Saturday), Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence and finally reacted to reports of him threatening to leave the national squad for being benched in Round of 16 tie, versus Switzerland.

Ahead of Portugal's quarter-final clash versus Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, on December 10 (Saturday), Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence and finally reacted to reports of him threatening to leave the national squad for being benched in Round of 16 tie, versus Switzerland. During Portugal's R16 match versus the Swiss, captain Ronaldo didn't feature in the starting XI and only made an appearance in the 73rd minute in his side's 5-1 victory courtesy of his replacement Gancalo Ramos' stunning treble. On Friday (December 08), the 37-year-old Ronaldo took to his official Twitter handle and shared a post captioned, "A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary. A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!" Um grupo demasiado unido para ser quebrado por forças externas. Uma nação demasiado corajosa para se deixar atemorizar perante qualquer adversário. Uma equipa no verdadeiro sentido da palavra, que vai lutar pelo sonho até ao fim! Acreditem connosco! Força, Portugal!🇵🇹🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/gUeENXSB5F — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 8, 2022 × Also read: FIFA World Cup: Portugal FA reacts to rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to leave squad Earlier, a statement from Portugal FA also backed Ronaldo by rubbishing claims against him, citing that he remains committed to the team as always. It read, "News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar." "Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team. Incidentally, the degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated - if necessary - in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The National Team - players, coaches, and FPF structure - is, as it has been since the first day, fully committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best-ever participation in a World Cup," it added. Ronaldo hasn't lived up to expectations in the ongoing edition so far. He, however, will hope to turn the tides in the upcoming games for the Portuguese line-up as the race for the final heats up with all big teams -- such as France, Brazil, Argentina, England, etc. -- still alive in the competition. Portugal take on Morocce in the quarters on Saturday.

FIFA WC: Ronaldo reacts to reports of him threatening to leave Portugal squad for being benched in R16 tie

Qatar has launched a work safety investigation into the&nbsp;death&nbsp;of a Filipino, officials said on Thursday, following reports that the man died while working at a training site during the soccer&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup. Qatar's treatment of migrant&nbsp;workers has come under enormous scrutiny during the build-up to the tournament, with human rights groups accusing the Gulf state of systematic labour abuses -- charges rejected by the government. Nasser Al Khater,&nbsp;chief&nbsp;executive of the 2022&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;in Doha, confirmed to Reuters that a&nbsp;worker&nbsp;had died, but gave no further details. He offered his condolences to his family and said "death&nbsp;is a natural&nbsp;part&nbsp;of life".

The Philippines' foreign ministry confirmed in a statement that one of its nationals had died while working at a resort south of the capital Doha. It said its embassy was "working with legal authorities to ascertain more details of his passing". Online sports publication The Athletic on Wednesday&nbsp;reported&nbsp;that the man worked for a company contracted to fix lights in a car park at the Sealine Resort, the training site of the Saudi national team. It said he died&nbsp;after&nbsp;he slipped off a ramp while walking alongside a forklift and hit his head on concrete.

Citing multiple unnamed sources, it said the accident occurred during the&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup, but did not specify when. The statement from the Philippines said it would not provide further details out of respect for the man's family. The resort did not respond to a Reuters' query. "If the investigation concludes that safety protocols were not followed, the company will be subject to legal action and severe financial penalties," said a Qatar government official, who declined to be named. "The rate of work-related accidents has consistently declined in Qatar since strict health and safety standards were introduced and enforcement has been stepped up," he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement,&nbsp;FIFA&nbsp;said that it "is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and sympathies are with the worker's family." "FIFA&nbsp;will be in a position to comment further once the relevant processes in relation to the worker's passing have been completed," added the football's world governing body.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-full-back-alex-sandro-remains-doubtful-for-quarterfinal-clash-says-brazil-coach-tite-541385">FIFA World Cup 2022: Full-back Alex Sandro remains doubtful for quarterfinal clash, says Brazil coach Tite</a>

DISPUTED&nbsp;DEATH&nbsp;NUMBERS

Since being awarded&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;hosting rights in 2010, Qatar had come under the microscope over its treatment of migrant&nbsp;workers, who account for the majority of its population. The tournament, the first to be held in the Middle East where other countries have also faced criticism over migrant&nbsp;workers' rights, has been mired in controversy with some soccer stars and European officials criticising Qatar's human rights record, including on labour, LGBT+ and women's rights.

Qatar's&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said in a statement that it was not involved in the Qatari investigation as "the deceased (was) working as a contractor, not under the remit of the SC". The number of work-related&nbsp;deaths in Qatar is in dispute. Britain's Guardian newspaper&nbsp;reported&nbsp;last year that at least 6,500 migrant&nbsp;workers - many of them working on&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;projects - had died in Qatar since 2010, based on its calculations from official records.

In response, Qatar said the number of&nbsp;deaths was proportionate to the size of the migrant workforce, and included many non-manual&nbsp;workers, adding that every life lost was a tragedy. The SC said that three work-related&nbsp;deaths and 37 non-work-related&nbsp;deaths had occurred on&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup-related projects. "Death&nbsp;is a natural&nbsp;part&nbsp;of life, whether it's at work, whether it's in your sleep," Khater said, voicing disappointment at journalists' questions about The Athletic report. "We're in the middle of a&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup. And we have a successful&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup. And this is something you want to talk about right now?" he said.

Qatar has launched a work safety investigation into the death of a Filipino, officials said on Thursday, following reports that the man died while working at a training site during the soccer World Cup.

Qatar has launched a work safety investigation into the death of a Filipino, officials said on Thursday, following reports that the man died while working at a training site during the soccer World Cup. Qatar's treatment of migrant workers has come under enormous scrutiny during the build-up to the tournament, with human rights groups accusing the Gulf state of systematic labour abuses -- charges rejected by the government. Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of the 2022 World Cup in Doha, confirmed to Reuters that a worker had died, but gave no further details. He offered his condolences to his family and said "death is a natural part of life". The Philippines' foreign ministry confirmed in a statement that one of its nationals had died while working at a resort south of the capital Doha. It said its embassy was "working with legal authorities to ascertain more details of his passing". Online sports publication The Athletic on Wednesday reported that the man worked for a company contracted to fix lights in a car park at the Sealine Resort, the training site of the Saudi national team. It said he died after he slipped off a ramp while walking alongside a forklift and hit his head on concrete. Citing multiple unnamed sources, it said the accident occurred during the World Cup, but did not specify when. The statement from the Philippines said it would not provide further details out of respect for the man's family. The resort did not respond to a Reuters' query. "If the investigation concludes that safety protocols were not followed, the company will be subject to legal action and severe financial penalties," said a Qatar government official, who declined to be named. "The rate of work-related accidents has consistently declined in Qatar since strict health and safety standards were introduced and enforcement has been stepped up," he said. Meanwhile, in a statement, FIFA said that it "is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and sympathies are with the worker's family." "FIFA will be in a position to comment further once the relevant processes in relation to the worker's passing have been completed," added the football's world governing body. Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Full-back Alex Sandro remains doubtful for quarterfinal clash, says Brazil coach Tite DISPUTED DEATH NUMBERS Since being awarded World Cup hosting rights in 2010, Qatar had come under the microscope over its treatment of migrant workers, who account for the majority of its population. The tournament, the first to be held in the Middle East where other countries have also faced criticism over migrant workers' rights, has been mired in controversy with some soccer stars and European officials criticising Qatar's human rights record, including on labour, LGBT+ and women's rights. Qatar's World Cup organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said in a statement that it was not involved in the Qatari investigation as "the deceased (was) working as a contractor, not under the remit of the SC". The number of work-related deaths in Qatar is in dispute. Britain's Guardian newspaper reported last year that at least 6,500 migrant workers - many of them working on World Cup projects - had died in Qatar since 2010, based on its calculations from official records. In response, Qatar said the number of deaths was proportionate to the size of the migrant workforce, and included many non-manual workers, adding that every life lost was a tragedy. The SC said that three work-related deaths and 37 non-work-related deaths had occurred on World Cup-related projects. "Death is a natural part of life, whether it's at work, whether it's in your sleep," Khater said, voicing disappointment at journalists' questions about The Athletic report. "We're in the middle of a World Cup. And we have a successful World Cup. And this is something you want to talk about right now?" he said.

FIFA 'deeply saddened' by death of a worker after World Cup chief executive's comments cause furore

The year 2022 is about to end. It has been a year full of many sporting events, fulfilling the demands of sports fans across the globe. In India, many upcoming sports personalities made a big name for themselves in 2022. With only a few days left for the year to bid goodbye, Google has released the top 10 most searched people in 2022 in India. The overall list has only one sportsperson's mention. While many would've expected&nbsp;Virat Kohli, Neeraj Chopra, MS Dhoni, etc. to make the cut, it is former Rajasthan Royals (RR) spinner Pravin Tambe who has topped the list among sports personalities.&nbsp;

The reason for Tambe topping the elite list can be due to a biopic on his life, which was released on Disney+Hotstar in April 2022. Actor Shreyas Talpade played the titular role in the movie, which was appreciated by many for its inspirational story and acting. Tambe has had a memorable run as a cricketer. Having not played a single first-class game at any level, he was picked by the 2008 IPL champions RR at the age of 41 in 2013. He, thus, became the oldest debutant in the cash-rich league and made heads turn with a sensational hat-trick in IPL 2014, versus the Kolkata Knight Riders. Following this, he represented Mumbai in first-class cricket and also went on to feature in several leagues across the globe.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wait-what-roger-federer-was-once-denied-entry-inside-wimbledon-swiss-maestro-shares-hilarious-story-541611">Wait, what? Roger Federer was once denied entry inside Wimbledon! Swiss maestro shares hilarious story</a>

At present, Tambe is serving as KKR's bowling coach after he was banned by the BCCI from playing any form of Indian cricket post his participation in the T10 league in Covid-hit 2020. It is to be noted that along with Google, Tambe is also the most searched Indian sportsperson on Twitter in 2022. In addition,&nbsp;he occupies the ninth spot in the overall list across the nation.

Surpassing the likes of Dhoni, Chopra, Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Harmanpreet Kaur, PV Sindhu, Sania Mirza, etc. is a huge feat for Tambe in his glittering career.

The year 2022 is about to end. It has been a year full of many sporting events, fulfilling the demands of sports fans across the globe. In India, many upcoming sports personalities made a big name for themselves in 2022.

The year 2022 is about to end. It has been a year full of many sporting events, fulfilling the demands of sports fans across the globe. In India, many upcoming sports personalities made a big name for themselves in 2022. With only a few days left for the year to bid goodbye, Google has released the top 10 most searched people in 2022 in India. The overall list has only one sportsperson's mention. While many would've expected Virat Kohli, Neeraj Chopra, MS Dhoni, etc. to make the cut, it is former Rajasthan Royals (RR) spinner Pravin Tambe who has topped the list among sports personalities. The reason for Tambe topping the elite list can be due to a biopic on his life, which was released on Disney+Hotstar in April 2022. Actor Shreyas Talpade played the titular role in the movie, which was appreciated by many for its inspirational story and acting. Tambe has had a memorable run as a cricketer. Having not played a single first-class game at any level, he was picked by the 2008 IPL champions RR at the age of 41 in 2013. He, thus, became the oldest debutant in the cash-rich league and made heads turn with a sensational hat-trick in IPL 2014, versus the Kolkata Knight Riders. Following this, he represented Mumbai in first-class cricket and also went on to feature in several leagues across the globe. Also read: Wait, what? Roger Federer was once denied entry inside Wimbledon! Swiss maestro shares hilarious story At present, Tambe is serving as KKR's bowling coach after he was banned by the BCCI from playing any form of Indian cricket post his participation in the T10 league in Covid-hit 2020. It is to be noted that along with Google, Tambe is also the most searched Indian sportsperson on Twitter in 2022. In addition, he occupies the ninth spot in the overall list across the nation. Surpassing the likes of Dhoni, Chopra, Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Harmanpreet Kaur, PV Sindhu, Sania Mirza, etc. is a huge feat for Tambe in his glittering career.

Not Kohli, Chopra or Dhoni: Surprising name becomes 'Most searched Indian sportsperson on Google in 2022'

A terrific run of form in the latter half of 2022 put Nick Kyrgios among the Grand Slam contenders and while the Australian knows much is expected of him heading into Melbourne Park next month, he says he has learned to embrace the pressure. After years of underachieving, the talented but temperamental Kyrgios won the Citi Open in Washington and reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. The 27-year-old, who won the Australian Open men's doubles title in January with countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis, also reached the U.S. Open quarter-finals, going down in five sets to Karen Khachanov.

His best result in the Australian Open singles tournament was a quarter-final berth in 2015 and it is safe to say his compatriots expect him to go much deeper at the season-opening Grand Slam this time around. "... I completely understand going on the match court with all this expectation that 'Nick Kyrgios (has a) legitimate chance to win a Grand Slam now'," Kyrgios told Eurosport in an interview published on Thursday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-fines-britains-lta-1-million-for-banning-russian-belarusian-players-541356">ATP fines Britain's LTA $1 million for banning Russian, Belarusian players</a>

"There's a lot of pressure there, especially, having the Australian Open and everyone in Australia expecting big things from me. It's a lot to handle sometimes. Being in the spotlight is not easy. I feel like I've embraced that and I've taken that challenge on. It's not easy, I've really worked hard to try and channel it, internalise it and use it as fuel," added Kyrgios, who is competing at the Diriyah&nbsp;Tennis&nbsp;Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The 2023 Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park from Jan. 16-29.

A terrific run of form in the latter half of 2022 put Nick Kyrgios among the Grand Slam contenders and while the Australian knows much is expected of him heading into Melbourne Park next month, he says he has learned to embrace the pressure.

A terrific run of form in the latter half of 2022 put Nick Kyrgios among the Grand Slam contenders and while the Australian knows much is expected of him heading into Melbourne Park next month, he says he has learned to embrace the pressure. After years of underachieving, the talented but temperamental Kyrgios won the Citi Open in Washington and reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. The 27-year-old, who won the Australian Open men's doubles title in January with countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis, also reached the U.S. Open quarter-finals, going down in five sets to Karen Khachanov. His best result in the Australian Open singles tournament was a quarter-final berth in 2015 and it is safe to say his compatriots expect him to go much deeper at the season-opening Grand Slam this time around. "... I completely understand going on the match court with all this expectation that 'Nick Kyrgios (has a) legitimate chance to win a Grand Slam now'," Kyrgios told Eurosport in an interview published on Thursday. Also read: ATP fines Britain's LTA $1 million for banning Russian, Belarusian players "There's a lot of pressure there, especially, having the Australian Open and everyone in Australia expecting big things from me. It's a lot to handle sometimes. Being in the spotlight is not easy. I feel like I've embraced that and I've taken that challenge on. It's not easy, I've really worked hard to try and channel it, internalise it and use it as fuel," added Kyrgios, who is competing at the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia. The 2023 Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park from Jan. 16-29.

World number 22 Nick Kyrgios embracing the pressure ahead of 2023 Australian Open

Roger Federer stunned one and all by retiring in September 2022. The tennis stalwart hadn't played any competitive match since his Wimbledon 2021 quarter-final exit and, hence, his retirement was always on the cards. Being plagued with several injury concerns, the Swiss maestro finally decided to hang his boots; sending his fans into a meltdown. After his retirement announcement, he played his last competitive game in Laver Cup 2022 where he teamed up with longtime rival Rafael Nadal though the duo lost to Frances Tiafoe-Jack Sock.&nbsp;

Recently, the 40-year-old Federer shared a hilarious anecdote during his interaction with&nbsp;Trevor Noah in the latest episode of the Daily Show. During the show, the host asked Federer to spill the beans about the time he was denied entry inside Wimbledon. To this, Federer revealed that he&nbsp;arrived in London to see a doctor following an event in Tokyo, Japan, and then decided to visit&nbsp;the All England Lawn Tennis &amp; Croquet Club (ALTEC) to kill time before his return flight for Switzerland.

Just then, Federer was denied entry at the Wimbledon, at an event which has been dominated by the former world number one throughout his career. He shared, "When you win Wimbledon, you become a member automatically. So, I'm like, "No, I don't have my membership card but I am a member and I'm just wondering where I can get in," and she (secutiry guard) said, "Yeah, but you have to be a member." I was like, "I'm just asking you again where can I get in", and she said, "The other side, but you have to be a member."

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Federer asserted, "So, I look at her one last time and I'm so sorry, I couldn't believe and still can't believe I said this and because I still feel bad about it. I'd look at her and say, "I have won this tournament eight times. Please believe me, I am a member!" Federer mentioned that he had to drive to another gate where he was finally recognised by a guard. He added, "When I said I won Wimbledon eight times, for a split second, I wasn't sure if it was eight anymore because I thought it 'was it seven, was it eight? I don't know'. But I said it because I never talk like this."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-very-federer-recalls-conversation-he-had-with-nadal-while-informing-about-his-retirement-541312">'It was a very...': Federer recalls conversation he had with Nadal while informing about his retirement</a>

It is to be noted that&nbsp;Federer has won as many as eight titles at the ALTEC; the most by any player. Novak Djokovic, after his Wimbledon 2022 triumph, is only one behind Federer's tally. Durnig his 24-year-long illustrious career, the Swiss player was regarded as one of the best players in grass-court history.&nbsp;

Roger Federer stunned one and all by retiring in September 2022. The tennis stalwart hadn't played any competitive match since his Wimbledon 2021 quarter-final exit and, hence, his retirement was always on the cards.

Roger Federer stunned one and all by retiring in September 2022. The tennis stalwart hadn't played any competitive match since his Wimbledon 2021 quarter-final exit and, hence, his retirement was always on the cards. Being plagued with several injury concerns, the Swiss maestro finally decided to hang his boots; sending his fans into a meltdown. After his retirement announcement, he played his last competitive game in Laver Cup 2022 where he teamed up with longtime rival Rafael Nadal though the duo lost to Frances Tiafoe-Jack Sock. Recently, the 40-year-old Federer shared a hilarious anecdote during his interaction with Trevor Noah in the latest episode of the Daily Show. During the show, the host asked Federer to spill the beans about the time he was denied entry inside Wimbledon. To this, Federer revealed that he arrived in London to see a doctor following an event in Tokyo, Japan, and then decided to visit the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (ALTEC) to kill time before his return flight for Switzerland. Just then, Federer was denied entry at the Wimbledon, at an event which has been dominated by the former world number one throughout his career. He shared, "When you win Wimbledon, you become a member automatically. So, I'm like, "No, I don't have my membership card but I am a member and I'm just wondering where I can get in," and she (secutiry guard) said, "Yeah, but you have to be a member." I was like, "I'm just asking you again where can I get in", and she said, "The other side, but you have to be a member." “Former tennis player” Roger Federer ft. Wimbledon 😂🌱 pic.twitter.com/MqtXgMOgET — A✨ (@_fazahsn_) December 8, 2022 × Federer asserted, "So, I look at her one last time and I'm so sorry, I couldn't believe and still can't believe I said this and because I still feel bad about it. I'd look at her and say, "I have won this tournament eight times. Please believe me, I am a member!" Federer mentioned that he had to drive to another gate where he was finally recognised by a guard. He added, "When I said I won Wimbledon eight times, for a split second, I wasn't sure if it was eight anymore because I thought it 'was it seven, was it eight? I don't know'. But I said it because I never talk like this." Also read: 'It was a very...': Federer recalls conversation he had with Nadal while informing about his retirement It is to be noted that Federer has won as many as eight titles at the ALTEC; the most by any player. Novak Djokovic, after his Wimbledon 2022 triumph, is only one behind Federer's tally. Durnig his 24-year-long illustrious career, the Swiss player was regarded as one of the best players in grass-court history.

Wait, what? Roger Federer was once denied entry inside Wimbledon! Swiss maestro shares hilarious story

After losing the first Test versus England, Babar Azam-led Pakistan locked horns with the visitors on Day 1 of the second and penultimate match in Multan on Friday (December 09). Pakistan handed a Test cap to Abrar&nbsp;Ahmed&nbsp;and the right-arm leg-break bowler accounted for seven for 114 to make a solid impression at the international level. With this, the 24-year-old became only the third Pakistani bowler to claim as many wickets on debut innings after&nbsp;Mohammad Zahid and&nbsp;Mohammad Nazir.

After England opted to bat first, they were scoring at a brisk rate once again but kept losing at regular intervals. Courtesy of fifties from Ben Duckett (63) and Ollie Pope (60), and vital contributions from captain Ben Stokes, Will Jack and Mark Wood, England posted 281 all-out in 51.4 overs but the star of the innings was debutant Abrar. He dismissed the top seven to make a memorable start. Here's all you need to know about him:

An upcoming spinner who didn't know legend Abdul Qadir? Yes, you heard that right!

Mushtaq Ahmed, head coach of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy in Lahore in 2017, asked Abrar about Pakistan's legendary spinner Abdul Qadir. To his surprise, the youngster hadn't even heard his name. "Ye kaun hai, kabhi naam nahi suna (Who is he, never heard his name)," said Abrar. “Everyone started laughing and Mushtaq bhai told him ‘you’ve registered yourself as a leg-spinner and you don’t know about the greatest we ever produced,’” Sajid Ahmed, Abrar's brother,&nbsp;told The Indian Express.

Impressing from the early days

Abrar is the youngest of eight siblings. He was close to his mother and the brightest among all siblings. In his early days, he used to play tape-ball cricket when one day he suddenly heard about a cricket trial at Rashid Latif’s academy and decided to show up. Muhammad Masroor, then Pakistan’s U-19 coach, was supervising the trials and got mighty impressed by what he saw of young Abrar.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-told-me-during-asia-cup-shoaib-malik-credits-babar-azam-for-being-vocal-about-his-t20-wc-omission-541510">'He told me during Asia Cup...': Shoaib Malik credits Babar Azam for being vocal about his T20 WC omission</a>

'Fingers like iron rods'

Masroor recalled about Abrar's variations and said, "He was bowling all variations with the same grip). He doesn’t have that massive turn. He was bowling on the stumps, and no one was able to read his lengths. I immediately asked him whether he had ever played with the hard ball. The answer was ‘no’. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Out of curiosity, I checked his fingers, and those were like iron rods."

Rapid strides

In 2016, the 24-year-old spinner Abrar bagged as many as 53 wickets in Zonal U-19 in Karachi. Soon, Masroor passed on his videos to Rashid Latif, the then Karachi Kings'&nbsp;director of cricket. As a result, he was one of the emerging picks of the franchise in the PSL 2017.

After his first stint in the PSL, things turned upside down for Abrar as he suffered&nbsp;a stage-five stress fracture. Hence, he was kept out of action for quite long (two years). After being constantly motivated by his father, he returned to the scene&nbsp;in early 2020 while representing Sindh’s second XI. In the Quaid-e-Azam Second XI tournament in the Covid-hit year, Abrar accounted for a whopping 57 wickets at 11.75.

In the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Abrar returned with 43 wickets, averaging&nbsp;21.95. Such was his consistency that he&nbsp;took five five-wicket hauls in seven matches, helping his cause to earn a Test call-up versus England.

After losing the first Test versus England, Babar Azam-led Pakistan locked horns with the visitors on Day 1 of the second and penultimate match in Multan on Friday (December 09).

After losing the first Test versus England, Babar Azam-led Pakistan locked horns with the visitors on Day 1 of the second and penultimate match in Multan on Friday (December 09). Pakistan handed a Test cap to Abrar Ahmed and the right-arm leg-break bowler accounted for seven for 114 to make a solid impression at the international level. With this, the 24-year-old became only the third Pakistani bowler to claim as many wickets on debut innings after Mohammad Zahid and Mohammad Nazir. After England opted to bat first, they were scoring at a brisk rate once again but kept losing at regular intervals. Courtesy of fifties from Ben Duckett (63) and Ollie Pope (60), and vital contributions from captain Ben Stokes, Will Jack and Mark Wood, England posted 281 all-out in 51.4 overs but the star of the innings was debutant Abrar. He dismissed the top seven to make a memorable start. Here's all you need to know about him: An upcoming spinner who didn't know legend Abdul Qadir? Yes, you heard that right! Mushtaq Ahmed, head coach of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy in Lahore in 2017, asked Abrar about Pakistan's legendary spinner Abdul Qadir. To his surprise, the youngster hadn't even heard his name. "Ye kaun hai, kabhi naam nahi suna (Who is he, never heard his name)," said Abrar. “Everyone started laughing and Mushtaq bhai told him ‘you’ve registered yourself as a leg-spinner and you don’t know about the greatest we ever produced,’” Sajid Ahmed, Abrar's brother, told The Indian Express. Impressing from the early days Abrar is the youngest of eight siblings. He was close to his mother and the brightest among all siblings. In his early days, he used to play tape-ball cricket when one day he suddenly heard about a cricket trial at Rashid Latif’s academy and decided to show up. Muhammad Masroor, then Pakistan’s U-19 coach, was supervising the trials and got mighty impressed by what he saw of young Abrar. Also read: 'He told me during Asia Cup...': Shoaib Malik credits Babar Azam for being vocal about his T20 WC omission 'Fingers like iron rods' Masroor recalled about Abrar's variations and said, "He was bowling all variations with the same grip). He doesn’t have that massive turn. He was bowling on the stumps, and no one was able to read his lengths. I immediately asked him whether he had ever played with the hard ball. The answer was ‘no’. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Out of curiosity, I checked his fingers, and those were like iron rods." Rapid strides In 2016, the 24-year-old spinner Abrar bagged as many as 53 wickets in Zonal U-19 in Karachi. Soon, Masroor passed on his videos to Rashid Latif, the then Karachi Kings' director of cricket. As a result, he was one of the emerging picks of the franchise in the PSL 2017. After his first stint in the PSL, things turned upside down for Abrar as he suffered a stage-five stress fracture. Hence, he was kept out of action for quite long (two years). After being constantly motivated by his father, he returned to the scene in early 2020 while representing Sindh’s second XI. In the Quaid-e-Azam Second XI tournament in the Covid-hit year, Abrar accounted for a whopping 57 wickets at 11.75. In the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Abrar returned with 43 wickets, averaging 21.95. Such was his consistency that he took five five-wicket hauls in seven matches, helping his cause to earn a Test call-up versus England.

Pak vs Eng, 2nd Test: Who is Abrar Ahmed? Debutant who claimed seven wickets to rattle Stokes & Co.

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