Babar Azam-led Pakistan locked horns with Bangladesh in the last group stage encounter of the ongoing T20I tri-series in New Zealand on Thursday (October 13). With both Pakistan and hosts New Zealand set to lock horns in the summit clash on Friday (October 14), the Men in Green aimed to finish off the group stage on a high and managed to do that with a convincing seven-wicket win over the Bangla Tigers at the&nbsp;Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

During the clash, skipper Babar Azam impressed with a 40-ball 55, laced with nine fours, to play a key role in his side's big win. By virtue of his knock, the right-hander also broke former Indian captain Virat Kohli's record to become the fastest Asian batter to reach the 11,000-run club at the international level. Babar took 251 innings to reach the 11k-run club whereas Kohli achieved the feat in 261 innings.

Fastest Asian batter to reach 11,000 runs in international cricket

Babar Azam 251 innings

Virat Kohli 261 innings

Sunil Gavaskar 262 innings

Javed Miandad 266 innings

On the other hand, Babar also moved past Indian skipper Rohit Sharma in the list of batters most half-centuries in the format. Hitman has 28 fifties under his belt whereas the Pakistan captain slammed his 29th half-century during his side's win over their Asian neighbours.

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Talking about the contest, Bangladesh opted to bat first after being knocked out of the race for the final. Riding on half-centuries from captain Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das, they managed to post a competitive 173 for 6. However, it wasn't enough as Pakistan openers Md Rizwan (69) and Babar (55) stitched a 101-run opening stand before Mohammad Nawaz's 25-ball 40 took his side home on the penultimate ball of the contest.

At the post-match presentation, Babar said, "Definitely happy, the team is playing very well, winning is always good. We didn't bowl well, made some basic mistakes, myself and Rizwan started well with Nawaz finishing it off. We will learn from this and think the middle-order stepping up is good for the team. We will have to field better though, that's one area where improvement is needed, we'll try to give our 100% in tomorrow's final."

Babar Azam-led Pakistan locked horns with Bangladesh in the last group stage encounter of the ongoing T20I tri-series in New Zealand on Thursday (October 13). With both Pakistan and hosts New Zealand set to lock horns in the summit clash on Friday (October 14), the Men in Green aimed to finish off the group stage on a high and managed to do that with a convincing seven-wicket win over the Bangla Tigers at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Babar Azam-led Pakistan locked horns with Bangladesh in the last group stage encounter of the ongoing T20I tri-series in New Zealand on Thursday (October 13). With both Pakistan and hosts New Zealand set to lock horns in the summit clash on Friday (October 14), the Men in Green aimed to finish off the group stage on a high and managed to do that with a convincing seven-wicket win over the Bangla Tigers at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch. During the clash, skipper Babar Azam impressed with a 40-ball 55, laced with nine fours, to play a key role in his side's big win. By virtue of his knock, the right-hander also broke former Indian captain Virat Kohli's record to become the fastest Asian batter to reach the 11,000-run club at the international level. Babar took 251 innings to reach the 11k-run club whereas Kohli achieved the feat in 261 innings. Fastest Asian batter to reach 11,000 runs in international cricket Babar Azam 251 innings Virat Kohli 261 innings Sunil Gavaskar 262 innings Javed Miandad 266 innings On the other hand, Babar also moved past Indian skipper Rohit Sharma in the list of batters most half-centuries in the format. Hitman has 28 fifties under his belt whereas the Pakistan captain slammed his 29th half-century during his side's win over their Asian neighbours. ALSO READ | 'I will...' - Outgoing BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly finally breaks silence as Roger Binny set to succeed him Talking about the contest, Bangladesh opted to bat first after being knocked out of the race for the final. Riding on half-centuries from captain Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das, they managed to post a competitive 173 for 6. However, it wasn't enough as Pakistan openers Md Rizwan (69) and Babar (55) stitched a 101-run opening stand before Mohammad Nawaz's 25-ball 40 took his side home on the penultimate ball of the contest. At the post-match presentation, Babar said, "Definitely happy, the team is playing very well, winning is always good. We didn't bowl well, made some basic mistakes, myself and Rizwan started well with Nawaz finishing it off. We will learn from this and think the middle-order stepping up is good for the team. We will have to field better though, that's one area where improvement is needed, we'll try to give our 100% in tomorrow's final."

NZ T20I tri-series: Babar breaks Kohli's record, becomes fastest Asian batter to attain HISTORIC feat

Babar Azam-led Pakistan is set to get a massive boost as premier pacer Shaheen Afridi is on the cusp of joining the national side in Australia on Saturday (October 15). Shaheen had been ruled out of action, after an knee injury he sustained during the Sri Lanka Tests in the island nation early this year, and missed the Asia Cup before also being out of the&nbsp;home T20Is versus England and the ongoing New Zealand T20I tri-series.

Shaheen is in recovery mode&nbsp;and is '90 per cent ready' -- as per PCB chief Ramiz Raja -- for the T20 World Cup, which will get underway in Australia on October 16. Babar-led Men in Green are placed in Pool B along with India, Bangladesh, and South Africa whereas two more teams will join them from the qualifiers. Pakistan will open their campaign in the main draw of the mega event, facing India at the iconic MCG, Melbourne on October 23.&nbsp;

Sharing Shaheen's fitness update, Ramiz said in a recent interview, "I have spoken to him we are in touch with his doctors and the feedback we have got is he is 90 per cent ready."

"But knee injuries can be delicate and technical and we have to see if he feels any soreness after playing the warm-up games. On his part he says he is ready and I think we are also ready," the former Pakistan captain added.

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Shaheen, who has represented Pakistan in 25 Tests, 32 ODIs and 40 T20Is, has been a mainstay in the national side and starred in his side's ten-wicket win over arch-rivals India in the 2021 T20 WC, in the UAE. The left-arm pacer returned with match-winning spell of 3 for 31, removing India's famed top-three Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, to restrict the Men in Blue for 151-5. In reply, Babar and Md Rizwan's unbeaten half-centuries propelled the Men in Green to a memorable ten-wicket win over their Asian neighbours.&nbsp;

At present, Pakistan is involved in a T20I tri-series in New Zealand, including Bangladesh, in the run-up to the T20 WC. They defeated the Bangla Tigers by seven wickets in the last group stage encounter on Thursday (October 13), in Christchurch, and will now face the hosts in the tournament finale on Friday (October 14).

Babar Azam-led Pakistan is set to get a massive boost as premier pacer Shaheen Afridi is on the cusp of joining the national side in Australia on Saturday (October 15).

Babar Azam-led Pakistan is set to get a massive boost as premier pacer Shaheen Afridi is on the cusp of joining the national side in Australia on Saturday (October 15). Shaheen had been ruled out of action, after an knee injury he sustained during the Sri Lanka Tests in the island nation early this year, and missed the Asia Cup before also being out of the home T20Is versus England and the ongoing New Zealand T20I tri-series. Shaheen is in recovery mode and is '90 per cent ready' -- as per PCB chief Ramiz Raja -- for the T20 World Cup, which will get underway in Australia on October 16. Babar-led Men in Green are placed in Pool B along with India, Bangladesh, and South Africa whereas two more teams will join them from the qualifiers. Pakistan will open their campaign in the main draw of the mega event, facing India at the iconic MCG, Melbourne on October 23. Sharing Shaheen's fitness update, Ramiz said in a recent interview, "I have spoken to him we are in touch with his doctors and the feedback we have got is he is 90 per cent ready." "But knee injuries can be delicate and technical and we have to see if he feels any soreness after playing the warm-up games. On his part he says he is ready and I think we are also ready," the former Pakistan captain added. ALSO READ | NZ T20I tri-series: Babar breaks Kohli's record, becomes fastest Asian batter to attain HISTORIC feat Shaheen, who has represented Pakistan in 25 Tests, 32 ODIs and 40 T20Is, has been a mainstay in the national side and starred in his side's ten-wicket win over arch-rivals India in the 2021 T20 WC, in the UAE. The left-arm pacer returned with match-winning spell of 3 for 31, removing India's famed top-three Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, to restrict the Men in Blue for 151-5. In reply, Babar and Md Rizwan's unbeaten half-centuries propelled the Men in Green to a memorable ten-wicket win over their Asian neighbours. At present, Pakistan is involved in a T20I tri-series in New Zealand, including Bangladesh, in the run-up to the T20 WC. They defeated the Bangla Tigers by seven wickets in the last group stage encounter on Thursday (October 13), in Christchurch, and will now face the hosts in the tournament finale on Friday (October 14).

T20 World Cup: Beware Team India! PCB chief Ramiz Raja reveals Shaheen Afridi is '90 per cent' fit

The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) said on Wednesday it would reverse a ban on amateur boxers from Russia and Belarus and allow them to compete with national flags and anthems in events with immediate effect. The world governing body, which is at odds with Olympic organisers, said its board of directors had voted in favour of the change. Russian energy company Gazprom is the biggest sponsor of the&nbsp;IBA, formerly known as AIBA.

"The&nbsp;IBA&nbsp;strongly believes that politics shouldn’t have any influence on sports. Hence, all athletes should be given equal conditions," the statement said. "IBA&nbsp;calls for peace and remains a peacemaker in any conflicts. Moreover, the&nbsp;IBA&nbsp;has obligation to ensure equal treatment towards the athletes and competition officials, regardless of their nationality and residence.

"Both Russian and Belarus teams will be able to perform under their flags, and the national anthems will be played in case they win a gold medal. "According to the decision, the technical officials of Russia and Belarus will also be back in the competitions."

Both countries have been barred since March from the&nbsp;IBA's international competitions, following Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. The&nbsp;IBA, led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, last month suspended Ukraine ahead of a meeting that voted against a fresh presidential election. That followed a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that Dutch federation president Boris van der Vorst was wrongly prevented from standing against Kremlev in May.

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The&nbsp;IBA&nbsp;does not recognise Kyrylo Shevchenko as president of the Ukrainian federation but instead considers its head to be Volodymyr Prodyvus, a Kremlev ally who left Ukraine in February. Kremlev was quoted last week as saying the time had come for athletes from Russia and ally Belarus to be allowed to compete under their own flags.

The IOC has taken away from the&nbsp;IBA&nbsp;the qualification tournaments and competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics after also stripping the body of involvement in last year's Tokyo Games due to governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues. Boxing has also not been included in the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Van der Vorst said the&nbsp;IBA's latest decision separated the boxing body further from the Olympic movement and "does not consider the interests of the world boxing community."

"Contrary to the&nbsp;IBA&nbsp;messages, this decision is an enforcement of the Russian government’s geopolitical agenda on the sport of boxing," he added in a statement. "It is clear that&nbsp;IBA&nbsp;is held hostage by its Russian leadership and they are determined to keep the governing body under their control at any cost."

The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) said on Wednesday it would reverse a ban on amateur boxers from Russia and Belarus and allow them to compete with national flags and anthems in events with immediate effect.

The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) said on Wednesday it would reverse a ban on amateur boxers from Russia and Belarus and allow them to compete with national flags and anthems in events with immediate effect. The world governing body, which is at odds with Olympic organisers, said its board of directors had voted in favour of the change. Russian energy company Gazprom is the biggest sponsor of the IBA, formerly known as AIBA. "The IBA strongly believes that politics shouldn’t have any influence on sports. Hence, all athletes should be given equal conditions," the statement said. "IBA calls for peace and remains a peacemaker in any conflicts. Moreover, the IBA has obligation to ensure equal treatment towards the athletes and competition officials, regardless of their nationality and residence. "Both Russian and Belarus teams will be able to perform under their flags, and the national anthems will be played in case they win a gold medal. "According to the decision, the technical officials of Russia and Belarus will also be back in the competitions." Both countries have been barred since March from the IBA's international competitions, following Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. The IBA, led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, last month suspended Ukraine ahead of a meeting that voted against a fresh presidential election. That followed a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that Dutch federation president Boris van der Vorst was wrongly prevented from standing against Kremlev in May. ALSO READ | Olympian Sushil Kumar to face murder trial for junior wrestler's death The IBA does not recognise Kyrylo Shevchenko as president of the Ukrainian federation but instead considers its head to be Volodymyr Prodyvus, a Kremlev ally who left Ukraine in February. Kremlev was quoted last week as saying the time had come for athletes from Russia and ally Belarus to be allowed to compete under their own flags. The IOC has taken away from the IBA the qualification tournaments and competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics after also stripping the body of involvement in last year's Tokyo Games due to governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues. Boxing has also not been included in the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Van der Vorst said the IBA's latest decision separated the boxing body further from the Olympic movement and "does not consider the interests of the world boxing community." "Contrary to the IBA messages, this decision is an enforcement of the Russian government’s geopolitical agenda on the sport of boxing," he added in a statement. "It is clear that IBA is held hostage by its Russian leadership and they are determined to keep the governing body under their control at any cost."

IBA gives nod to return of Russian, Belarus boxers with flags and anthems

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is set to make way for Roger Binny as the 1983 World Cup winning hero is on the cusp of taking over the top post. It is believed that Ganguly was keen to carry on as the BCCI chief but fell out of favour. Reportedly, Ganguly was offered the post of IPL Chairman but the former Indian skipper denied the offer. He was eyeing the ICC Chairman post, however, the board isn't too keen to send him to the ICC as well.

Amid all this, Ganguly finally broke his silence during a recent event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking at a Bandhan Bank event, Ganguly stated that he is now looking to move on to something else.

"I have been an administrator and I will move on to something else," he said at the event. "Whatever you do in life the best days are when you played for India. I have been president of BCCI and I will go on to do bigger things.&nbsp;I never believed in history but the feeling in the past was east lacked talent to play at that level. You don't become an Ambani or Narendra Modi in one day. You have to work for months and years to get there," he further added.

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Meanwhile, Binny -- who represented India in 27 Tests and 72 ODIs -- is set to take over from Ganguly. He filed his nomination papers recently and is expected to be&nbsp;elected unopposed. On the other hand, Jay Shah will continue to serve as the BCCI Secretary whereas treasurer Arun Dhumal is in-line to become the IPL Chairman.&nbsp;

Before taking over as the BCCI president, in late 2019, Ganguly had served as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. During IPL 2019, the Bengal Tiger also served as the Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor as well.&nbsp;

Talking about Indian cricket's senior men's and women's team, the former is in Australia and gearing up for the forthcoming 2022 T20 World Cup, which commences on October 16. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves qualified for the Women's Asia Cup final, with a convincing 74-run win over Thailand in the first semi-final on Thursday (October 13) in Bangladesh.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is set to make way for Roger Binny as the 1983 World Cup winning hero is on the cusp of taking over the top post. It is believed that Ganguly was keen to carry on as the BCCI chief but fell out of favour.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is set to make way for Roger Binny as the 1983 World Cup winning hero is on the cusp of taking over the top post. It is believed that Ganguly was keen to carry on as the BCCI chief but fell out of favour. Reportedly, Ganguly was offered the post of IPL Chairman but the former Indian skipper denied the offer. He was eyeing the ICC Chairman post, however, the board isn't too keen to send him to the ICC as well. Amid all this, Ganguly finally broke his silence during a recent event. Speaking at a Bandhan Bank event, Ganguly stated that he is now looking to move on to something else. "I have been an administrator and I will move on to something else," he said at the event. "Whatever you do in life the best days are when you played for India. I have been president of BCCI and I will go on to do bigger things. I never believed in history but the feeling in the past was east lacked talent to play at that level. You don't become an Ambani or Narendra Modi in one day. You have to work for months and years to get there," he further added. ALSO READ | Outgoing BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly unlikely to be backed by board for ICC Chairman's position - Report Meanwhile, Binny -- who represented India in 27 Tests and 72 ODIs -- is set to take over from Ganguly. He filed his nomination papers recently and is expected to be elected unopposed. On the other hand, Jay Shah will continue to serve as the BCCI Secretary whereas treasurer Arun Dhumal is in-line to become the IPL Chairman. Before taking over as the BCCI president, in late 2019, Ganguly had served as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. During IPL 2019, the Bengal Tiger also served as the Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor as well. Talking about Indian cricket's senior men's and women's team, the former is in Australia and gearing up for the forthcoming 2022 T20 World Cup, which commences on October 16. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves qualified for the Women's Asia Cup final, with a convincing 74-run win over Thailand in the first semi-final on Thursday (October 13) in Bangladesh.

'I will...' - Outgoing BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly breaks silence with Roger Binny all set to succeed him

Ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, i.e. the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. His stance against the Covid-19 vaccination landed him in a deportation centre in Australia, prior to the tournament. The news spread like wildfire and resulted in Djokovic being sent back to his country, Serbia. The Serbian is&nbsp;banned from entering the country for three years, despite Russians and Belarusians being given the nod to take part&nbsp;in the tournament Down Under.

Ahead of the 2023 Australian Open, which is set to get underway on January 16, tournament chief&nbsp;Craig Tiley&nbsp;told The Age newspaper&nbsp;that Djokovic will be welcomed at the forthcoming mega event.

"What we're saying at this point is that Novak and the federal government need to work out the situation. And then we'll follow any instructions after that," said Tiley. "I did spend some time with Novak at the Laver Cup. We spoke generally. He said that he'd obviously love to come back to Australia but he knows it's going to be an ultimate decision for the federal government. He's accepted that position. It's a private matter between them," Tiley added.

In addition, Tiley confirmed that the Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to take part in the first major tournament of 2023, however, they will have to do so as independent players.

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"The only difference will be that they cannot represent Russia, cannot represent the flag of Russia, cannot participate in any activity such as the anthem of Russia and have to play as independent players," said Tiley.

While it seems Djokovic might just have a chance to return to Australia for the big-ticket tournament, opposition politician Karen Andrews -- who was serving as the home affairs minister when the former world number one was deported early this year -- believes there should be no special treatment given to the Serbian.

"It would be a slap in the face for those people in Australia who did the right thing, got vaccinated, did everything they needed to do if all of a sudden Novak Djokovic is allowed back into the country simply because he is a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars," Andrews said while speaking on Mornings.

Recently,&nbsp;Immigration lawyer Kon-ming Tsai also opened up in this regard. "There is no risk factor here with allowing Djokovic back in. He's not going to create a problem for the community. He is one of the world's best tennis players and will be able to pull in a lot of foreign visitors,"&nbsp;Tsai said in a telephone interview&nbsp;with The Associated Press.

Ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, i.e. the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. His stance against the Covid-19 vaccination landed him in a deportation centre in Australia, prior to the tournament.

Ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, i.e. the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. His stance against the Covid-19 vaccination landed him in a deportation centre in Australia, prior to the tournament. The news spread like wildfire and resulted in Djokovic being sent back to his country, Serbia. The Serbian is banned from entering the country for three years, despite Russians and Belarusians being given the nod to take part in the tournament Down Under. Ahead of the 2023 Australian Open, which is set to get underway on January 16, tournament chief Craig Tiley told The Age newspaper that Djokovic will be welcomed at the forthcoming mega event. "What we're saying at this point is that Novak and the federal government need to work out the situation. And then we'll follow any instructions after that," said Tiley. "I did spend some time with Novak at the Laver Cup. We spoke generally. He said that he'd obviously love to come back to Australia but he knows it's going to be an ultimate decision for the federal government. He's accepted that position. It's a private matter between them," Tiley added. In addition, Tiley confirmed that the Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to take part in the first major tournament of 2023, however, they will have to do so as independent players. ALSO READ | Victor Wembanyama: The 18-year-old 'generational talent' set to light up NBA "The only difference will be that they cannot represent Russia, cannot represent the flag of Russia, cannot participate in any activity such as the anthem of Russia and have to play as independent players," said Tiley. While it seems Djokovic might just have a chance to return to Australia for the big-ticket tournament, opposition politician Karen Andrews -- who was serving as the home affairs minister when the former world number one was deported early this year -- believes there should be no special treatment given to the Serbian. "It would be a slap in the face for those people in Australia who did the right thing, got vaccinated, did everything they needed to do if all of a sudden Novak Djokovic is allowed back into the country simply because he is a high-ranking tennis player with many millions of dollars," Andrews said while speaking on Mornings. Recently, Immigration lawyer Kon-ming Tsai also opened up in this regard. "There is no risk factor here with allowing Djokovic back in. He's not going to create a problem for the community. He is one of the world's best tennis players and will be able to pull in a lot of foreign visitors," Tsai said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

'Novak Djokovic would love to play at Australian Open but...' - Tournament chief on Serbian's availability

Cricket Australia (CA) look set to revoke David&nbsp;Warner's lifetime ban from leadership positions after announcing that the body's integrity code would be reviewed at Friday's board meeting as a "first step" to his rehabilitation. The now 35-year-old batsman was banned from the elite game for a year and from leadership positions for life by CA after he was adjudged to have played the leading role in the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal.

There have been calls this year from current and former players for the leadership ban to be dropped to allow&nbsp;Warner&nbsp;to be considered for the vacancy as Australia's one-day international captain. "The view within Cricket Australia is that David is doing particularly well on the field and making a great contribution," CA chair Lachlan Henderson told a news conference after Thursday's annual general meeting. "The first step in terms of David's leadership ban is to review the code and see if those sanctions are able to be reviewed. And the appropriate revisions to that code that would need to be made."

Any player who accepts a sanction under the current integrity code, as&nbsp;Warner&nbsp;did, forgoes the right to a later review of the punishment. Henderson and chief executive Nick Hockley said they felt it was important the code recognised that sanctioned players could change. "We are looking at sanctions to be reviewed for good behaviour and growth after a period of time," Hockley told reporters. "Pending tomorrow's discussion, there would then need to be a revision of the code and that would need to be approved by the board."

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Henderson added that the review would be undertaken "as quickly as practicable". "It's not in anyone's interest for us to delay," he said. "It would be in time for any future leadership conversations in relation to David." Warner, a former test vice-captain, has said he would regard the offer of a leadership role for his country as a "privilege".

At the AGM, CA announced a A$5.1 million ($3.20 million) net loss for the 2021-22 financial year, blaming a 3.5% drop in revenue largely on a slump in the international sports media rights market.

Cricket Australia (CA) look set to revoke David Warner's lifetime ban from leadership positions after announcing that the body's integrity code would be reviewed at Friday's board meeting as a "first step" to his rehabilitation.

Cricket Australia (CA) look set to revoke David Warner's lifetime ban from leadership positions after announcing that the body's integrity code would be reviewed at Friday's board meeting as a "first step" to his rehabilitation. The now 35-year-old batsman was banned from the elite game for a year and from leadership positions for life by CA after he was adjudged to have played the leading role in the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal. There have been calls this year from current and former players for the leadership ban to be dropped to allow Warner to be considered for the vacancy as Australia's one-day international captain. "The view within Cricket Australia is that David is doing particularly well on the field and making a great contribution," CA chair Lachlan Henderson told a news conference after Thursday's annual general meeting. "The first step in terms of David's leadership ban is to review the code and see if those sanctions are able to be reviewed. And the appropriate revisions to that code that would need to be made." Any player who accepts a sanction under the current integrity code, as Warner did, forgoes the right to a later review of the punishment. Henderson and chief executive Nick Hockley said they felt it was important the code recognised that sanctioned players could change. "We are looking at sanctions to be reviewed for good behaviour and growth after a period of time," Hockley told reporters. "Pending tomorrow's discussion, there would then need to be a revision of the code and that would need to be approved by the board." ALSO READ | Western Australia XI beat KL Rahul-starrer India by 36 runs in second warm-up encounter Henderson added that the review would be undertaken "as quickly as practicable". "It's not in anyone's interest for us to delay," he said. "It would be in time for any future leadership conversations in relation to David." Warner, a former test vice-captain, has said he would regard the offer of a leadership role for his country as a "privilege". At the AGM, CA announced a A$5.1 million ($3.20 million) net loss for the 2021-22 financial year, blaming a 3.5% drop in revenue largely on a slump in the international sports media rights market.

Australia signal David Warner captaincy ban to be revoked after integrity code review

After a 13-run win in their first warm-up encounter versus Western Australia XI, India locked horns with them once again on Thursday (October 13). With Rohit Sharma playing as a specialist batter, KL Rahul got a chance to lead the side. Opting to bowl first, India fell behind courtesy of fifties from D Arcy Short and&nbsp;Nick Hobson as the WA&nbsp;XI posted a competitive 168 for 8 in 20 overs. In reply, India only managed 132 for 8 to lose by 36 runs.&nbsp;

India got rid of&nbsp;Josh Philippe for cheap after opting to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh accounted for his wicket before a 110-run second-wicket stand between Short and Hobson tilted the momentum in their favour. From thereon, wickets fell at regular intervals as R Ashwin (3 for 32) and Harshal Patel (2 for 27) curtailed the run-flow. Nonetheless, WA XI still managed to post a healthy total on the board, which proved enough.&nbsp;

During the run-chase, Rahul led the charge and held one end with a 55-ball 74 but didn't get much support from the other batters as Hardik Pandya (17) and Dinesh Karthik (14-ball 10) were the only contributors.&nbsp;Matthew Kelly and Lance Morris accounted for two wickets apiece and derailed India's run-flow. Eventually, India only managed 132 for 8 to lose by a convincing margin. Rohit didn't come out to bat and, hence, hurt the Men in Blue's chances&nbsp;during their run-chase.

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After the loss, India will now have some rest before turning up for their remaining two warm-up encounters, where they will face Australia (October 17) and New Zealand (October 19) before their T20 World Cup opening clash. In India's T20 WC 2022 opener, the Rohit Sharma-led side will face Pakistan on October 23 at the iconic MCG, Melbourne.&nbsp;

So far, in the two warm-up encounters, all apart from Virat Kohli have got a chance to play. It will be interesting to see if the former Indian captain will be rested for their remaining two warm-up ties or get a look-in.&nbsp;

After a 13-run win in their first warm-up encounter versus Western Australia XI, India locked horns with them once again on Thursday (October 13). With Rohit Sharma playing as a specialist batter, KL Rahul got a chance to lead the side.

After a 13-run win in their first warm-up encounter versus Western Australia XI, India locked horns with them once again on Thursday (October 13). With Rohit Sharma playing as a specialist batter, KL Rahul got a chance to lead the side. Opting to bowl first, India fell behind courtesy of fifties from D Arcy Short and Nick Hobson as the WA XI posted a competitive 168 for 8 in 20 overs. In reply, India only managed 132 for 8 to lose by 36 runs. India got rid of Josh Philippe for cheap after opting to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh accounted for his wicket before a 110-run second-wicket stand between Short and Hobson tilted the momentum in their favour. From thereon, wickets fell at regular intervals as R Ashwin (3 for 32) and Harshal Patel (2 for 27) curtailed the run-flow. Nonetheless, WA XI still managed to post a healthy total on the board, which proved enough. During the run-chase, Rahul led the charge and held one end with a 55-ball 74 but didn't get much support from the other batters as Hardik Pandya (17) and Dinesh Karthik (14-ball 10) were the only contributors. Matthew Kelly and Lance Morris accounted for two wickets apiece and derailed India's run-flow. Eventually, India only managed 132 for 8 to lose by a convincing margin. Rohit didn't come out to bat and, hence, hurt the Men in Blue's chances during their run-chase. ALSO READ | Ravi Shastri raises concerns on Indian pace battery's regular injury woes ahead of T20 World Cup After the loss, India will now have some rest before turning up for their remaining two warm-up encounters, where they will face Australia (October 17) and New Zealand (October 19) before their T20 World Cup opening clash. In India's T20 WC 2022 opener, the Rohit Sharma-led side will face Pakistan on October 23 at the iconic MCG, Melbourne. So far, in the two warm-up encounters, all apart from Virat Kohli have got a chance to play. It will be interesting to see if the former Indian captain will be rested for their remaining two warm-up ties or get a look-in.

Western Australia XI beat KL Rahul-starrer India by 36 runs in second warm-up encounter

BCCI is set to host the inaugural edition of the Women's IPL in early 2023. While the itinerary is being readied, it is believed that the first-ever season will kick off in India in March next year, soon after the conclusion of the T20 Women's World Cup and right before the men's IPL. For quite some time, the Women's IPL has been long awaited and the historic tournament is set to get underway next year.&nbsp;

As per a report in Cricbuzz, BCCI is considering a five-team Women's IPL. Unlike in the men's competition, each team will reportedly field as many as five overseas players. Out of the five, four must be from&nbsp;ICC Full Member Nations whereas the remaining one has to be from an Associate Nation.&nbsp;

In addition, BCCI is in talks between two options for selling the IPL franchises: zone wise-North (Dharamsala/Jammu), South (Kochi/Vizag), Central (Indore/Nagpur/Raipur), East (Ranchi/Cuttack), North East (Guwahati) and West (Pune/Rajkot)-with matches to take place at non-IPL venues or existing city-wise as is the case with the men's IPL (Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata-with matches held at IPL venues). Nonetheless, nothing is final in this regard and a final decision will be taken by the IPL chairperson (with the BCCI's current treasurer Arun Dhumal set to take over the post)&nbsp;and the board office bearers in due course of time.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shafali-verma-and-deepti-sharma-take-india-to-womens-asia-cup-final-with-big-win-over-thailand-524993">Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma take India to Women's Asia Cup final with big win over Thailand</a>

As per reports, a caravan-style itinerary is also being considered for the inaugural edition of the Women's IPL. It means one could see a bunch of matches taking place at a venue before the entire competition will shift to a different venue. IPL 2021 was staged in a similar format, which saw matches being held in Mumbai and Chennai first before the tournament shifted to Delhi and Ahmedabad (prior to the second wave of the Covid-19 virus postponing the tournament and later shifting&nbsp;it entirely to the UAE, in late 2021).&nbsp;

Talking about the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves, they have been on a roll in 2022. After missing out on a semi-final spot in the 2022 Women's World Cup by a whisker, India won a silver medal at the CWG'2022 edition and have now booked a place in the Asia Cup, beating Thailand by 74 runs in the first semi-final on Thursday (October 13). They will now face Sri Lanka in the final, on Saturday (October 15).

BCCI is set to host the inaugural edition of the Women's IPL in early 2023. While the itinerary is being readied, it is believed that the first-ever season will kick off in India in March next year, soon after the conclusion of the T20 Women's World Cup and right before the men's IPL.

BCCI is set to host the inaugural edition of the Women's IPL in early 2023. While the itinerary is being readied, it is believed that the first-ever season will kick off in India in March next year, soon after the conclusion of the T20 Women's World Cup and right before the men's IPL. For quite some time, the Women's IPL has been long awaited and the historic tournament is set to get underway next year. As per a report in Cricbuzz, BCCI is considering a five-team Women's IPL. Unlike in the men's competition, each team will reportedly field as many as five overseas players. Out of the five, four must be from ICC Full Member Nations whereas the remaining one has to be from an Associate Nation. In addition, BCCI is in talks between two options for selling the IPL franchises: zone wise-North (Dharamsala/Jammu), South (Kochi/Vizag), Central (Indore/Nagpur/Raipur), East (Ranchi/Cuttack), North East (Guwahati) and West (Pune/Rajkot)-with matches to take place at non-IPL venues or existing city-wise as is the case with the men's IPL (Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata-with matches held at IPL venues). Nonetheless, nothing is final in this regard and a final decision will be taken by the IPL chairperson (with the BCCI's current treasurer Arun Dhumal set to take over the post) and the board office bearers in due course of time. ALSO READ | Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma take India to Women's Asia Cup final with big win over Thailand As per reports, a caravan-style itinerary is also being considered for the inaugural edition of the Women's IPL. It means one could see a bunch of matches taking place at a venue before the entire competition will shift to a different venue. IPL 2021 was staged in a similar format, which saw matches being held in Mumbai and Chennai first before the tournament shifted to Delhi and Ahmedabad (prior to the second wave of the Covid-19 virus postponing the tournament and later shifting it entirely to the UAE, in late 2021). Talking about the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian eves, they have been on a roll in 2022. After missing out on a semi-final spot in the 2022 Women's World Cup by a whisker, India won a silver medal at the CWG'2022 edition and have now booked a place in the Asia Cup, beating Thailand by 74 runs in the first semi-final on Thursday (October 13). They will now face Sri Lanka in the final, on Saturday (October 15).

BCCI mulling five-team Women's IPL, inaugural season to kick off in March 2023

Substitute Mohamed&nbsp;Salah&nbsp;scored the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history as Liverpool came from behind to thrash Rangers 7-1 on Wednesday and put themselves on the verge of qualification for the competition's knockout stages. Salah&nbsp;came off the bench in the second half with Liverpool leading 3-1 and fired a treble timed at six minutes and 12 seconds between the first and third goals to turn a hard-fought win into a rout. Roberto Firmino had dragged Liverpool back into the contest with a double strike and Darwin Nunez was also on the scoresheet before Harvey Elliott rounded off the scoring following&nbsp;Salah's goals.

It appeared a much-changed Liverpool were in for further frustration in a disappointing season so far as they fell behind for the eighth time in all competitions after Scott Arfield slotted home 17 minutes in to lift the roof off Ibrox. That lead lasted less than eight minutes, however, as Firmino continued his prolific season with a near-post header to level things up from a corner. Liverpool were much the better team right from the off in the second half and deservedly edged back in front 10 minutes after the interval, Firmino converting Joe Gomez's pinpoint low cross to take his goal tally to eight in all competitions.

With Rangers chasing the game, a fine finish from close-season signing Nunez put the game beyond the hosts before&nbsp;Salah&nbsp;took centre stage. Elliott added to the home side's embarrassment with a late seventh, putting the seal on a victory that means Liverpool are second in Group A, and need just one point from their final two matches to be sure of a spot in the knockout stages, while Rangers are bottom, without a point.

"We were really just on it and meeting us in the wrong moment is not cool (for opponents)," Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp said. "All the goals we scored were exceptional. Mo (Salah) came on and is on fire and interprets the position really well. It is a night where things work out for us. "In the end we needed to get clear in the final third, which obviously worked out, all the goals were great, how we played them and set them up and finished them."

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ten-man-manchester-city-through-to-champions-league-knockout-stages-with-draw-in-copenhagen-524740">&nbsp;Ten-man Manchester City through to Champions League knockout stages with draw in Copenhagen</a>

RANGERS MISSED CHANCES

Coming into the match, of the 45 teams to have played at least 50 games in the Champions League, only Anderlecht had a lower win rate than Rangers' 12 victories in 65 games. However, you would not have thought it at Ibrox, given how Rangers started. Former Liverpool forward Ryan Kent fired just over before Arfield found the bottom corner for Rangers' first Champions League goal of the season, and first in 383 minutes in the competition.

The defending from the home side left much to be desired as Liverpool levelled through Firmino, but that was as good as it got for the visitors in the opening period, with Rangers missing several chances to retake the lead. The second half was a different story altogether, and Rangers completely crumbled as Liverpool improved. Nunez's goal was as much to do with the hosts' poor defending, while&nbsp;Salah&nbsp;was presented with gift after gift having come off the bench for only the final 22 minutes.

Salah's incredible treble took him to 38 Champions League goals for Liverpool, now the most by any player for an English club in the competition, surpassing Didier Drogba for Chelsea and Sergio Aguero for Manchester City, who both have 36. The stadium was empty as Elliott stroked home to complete a flattering scoreline for Liverpool, given they had struggled for much of the opening period.

"It is very hard to explain, to process," Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst said. "I am still processing the game, especially the second half. "The first half and the last half-an-hour was night and day, how we played and that difference in level, that is too much in Champions League. I cannot explain it right now."

Substitute Mohamed Salah scored the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history as Liverpool came from behind to thrash Rangers 7-1 on Wednesday and put themselves on the verge of qualification for the competition's knockout stages.

Substitute Mohamed Salah scored the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history as Liverpool came from behind to thrash Rangers 7-1 on Wednesday and put themselves on the verge of qualification for the competition's knockout stages. Salah came off the bench in the second half with Liverpool leading 3-1 and fired a treble timed at six minutes and 12 seconds between the first and third goals to turn a hard-fought win into a rout. Roberto Firmino had dragged Liverpool back into the contest with a double strike and Darwin Nunez was also on the scoresheet before Harvey Elliott rounded off the scoring following Salah's goals. It appeared a much-changed Liverpool were in for further frustration in a disappointing season so far as they fell behind for the eighth time in all competitions after Scott Arfield slotted home 17 minutes in to lift the roof off Ibrox. That lead lasted less than eight minutes, however, as Firmino continued his prolific season with a near-post header to level things up from a corner. Liverpool were much the better team right from the off in the second half and deservedly edged back in front 10 minutes after the interval, Firmino converting Joe Gomez's pinpoint low cross to take his goal tally to eight in all competitions. With Rangers chasing the game, a fine finish from close-season signing Nunez put the game beyond the hosts before Salah took centre stage. Elliott added to the home side's embarrassment with a late seventh, putting the seal on a victory that means Liverpool are second in Group A, and need just one point from their final two matches to be sure of a spot in the knockout stages, while Rangers are bottom, without a point. "We were really just on it and meeting us in the wrong moment is not cool (for opponents)," Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp said. "All the goals we scored were exceptional. Mo (Salah) came on and is on fire and interprets the position really well. It is a night where things work out for us. "In the end we needed to get clear in the final third, which obviously worked out, all the goals were great, how we played them and set them up and finished them." ALSO READ | Ten-man Manchester City through to Champions League knockout stages with draw in Copenhagen RANGERS MISSED CHANCES Coming into the match, of the 45 teams to have played at least 50 games in the Champions League, only Anderlecht had a lower win rate than Rangers' 12 victories in 65 games. However, you would not have thought it at Ibrox, given how Rangers started. Former Liverpool forward Ryan Kent fired just over before Arfield found the bottom corner for Rangers' first Champions League goal of the season, and first in 383 minutes in the competition. The defending from the home side left much to be desired as Liverpool levelled through Firmino, but that was as good as it got for the visitors in the opening period, with Rangers missing several chances to retake the lead. The second half was a different story altogether, and Rangers completely crumbled as Liverpool improved. Nunez's goal was as much to do with the hosts' poor defending, while Salah was presented with gift after gift having come off the bench for only the final 22 minutes. Salah's incredible treble took him to 38 Champions League goals for Liverpool, now the most by any player for an English club in the competition, surpassing Didier Drogba for Chelsea and Sergio Aguero for Manchester City, who both have 36. The stadium was empty as Elliott stroked home to complete a flattering scoreline for Liverpool, given they had struggled for much of the opening period. "It is very hard to explain, to process," Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst said. "I am still processing the game, especially the second half. "The first half and the last half-an-hour was night and day, how we played and that difference in level, that is too much in Champions League. I cannot explain it right now."

Champions League: Mohamed Salah's hat-trick propels Liverpool to 7-1 win over Rangers

On Wednesday (October 12), discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur suffered a massive blow as the Tokyo 2020 star has been banned for three years for the use of steroids (for resorting to the prohibited substance stanozolol).&nbsp;Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) made the official announcement, resulting in the athlete's three-year ban which will be effective from March 29, 2022.

The 26-year-old Kamalpreet was handed a provisional suspension early this May after testing positive for the steroid. The banned substance was found in her sample by the AIU, at Patiala, on March 7.&nbsp; It is to be noted that stanozolol is classified as an anabolic steroid and is part of World Athletics' list of banned substances.

"The AIU has banned Kamalpreet Kaur of India for 3 years for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (stanozolol), starting from 29 March 2022. DQ results from 7 March 2022," the AIU said in a statement.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mehar-chhayakar-banned-for-14-years-on-corruption-charges-524706">ICC bans UAE-based ex-cricketer Mehar Chhayakar for 14 years on corruption charges</a>

Earlier, discus thrower Kamalpreet had rejected the anlysis of her B sample. "On 11 April 2022, the athlete confirmed that she would not request the B Sample analysis or the A Sample and/or B Sample Laboratory Documentation Packages ("LDPs") unless she was assisted with the related costs," the AIU stated.

Kamalpreet couldn't provide any explanation on how she acquired the supplement and was given a&nbsp;Notice of Charge on September 7 by the AIU. Eventually, the athlete admitted her violation. She did it within 20 days of receiving the notice, resulting in her ban being reduced by a year. The suspension is a huge dent to Kamalpreet's journey and it also&nbsp;signifies that all of her results on and since March 7, 2022 now stand null and void.

Kamalpreet rose to fame by virtue of her performance in the Tokyo Games, held last year. During the mega event, she made heads turn and&nbsp;finished sixth in her event. Prior to the event, she also achieved a historic feat of setting a national record of 65.06m. While she ticked all the boxes and was going strong in Tokyo Games, finishing second in the qualifiers, Kamalpreet missed out on a podium-finish in the final; ending&nbsp;at the sixth position with a best of&nbsp;63.70. It was the third-best performance by an Indian in a field event at the Games.

On Wednesday (October 12), discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur suffered a massive blow as the Tokyo 2020 star has been banned for three years for the use of steroids (for resorting to the prohibited substance stanozolol).

On Wednesday (October 12), discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur suffered a massive blow as the Tokyo 2020 star has been banned for three years for the use of steroids (for resorting to the prohibited substance stanozolol). Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) made the official announcement, resulting in the athlete's three-year ban which will be effective from March 29, 2022. The 26-year-old Kamalpreet was handed a provisional suspension early this May after testing positive for the steroid. The banned substance was found in her sample by the AIU, at Patiala, on March 7. It is to be noted that stanozolol is classified as an anabolic steroid and is part of World Athletics' list of banned substances. "The AIU has banned Kamalpreet Kaur of India for 3 years for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (stanozolol), starting from 29 March 2022. DQ results from 7 March 2022," the AIU said in a statement. ALSO READ | ICC bans UAE-based ex-cricketer Mehar Chhayakar for 14 years on corruption charges Earlier, discus thrower Kamalpreet had rejected the anlysis of her B sample. "On 11 April 2022, the athlete confirmed that she would not request the B Sample analysis or the A Sample and/or B Sample Laboratory Documentation Packages ("LDPs") unless she was assisted with the related costs," the AIU stated. Kamalpreet couldn't provide any explanation on how she acquired the supplement and was given a Notice of Charge on September 7 by the AIU. Eventually, the athlete admitted her violation. She did it within 20 days of receiving the notice, resulting in her ban being reduced by a year. The suspension is a huge dent to Kamalpreet's journey and it also signifies that all of her results on and since March 7, 2022 now stand null and void. Kamalpreet rose to fame by virtue of her performance in the Tokyo Games, held last year. During the mega event, she made heads turn and finished sixth in her event. Prior to the event, she also achieved a historic feat of setting a national record of 65.06m. While she ticked all the boxes and was going strong in Tokyo Games, finishing second in the qualifiers, Kamalpreet missed out on a podium-finish in the final; ending at the sixth position with a best of 63.70. It was the third-best performance by an Indian in a field event at the Games.

Massive blow to discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur, gets banned for three years for using steroids

Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said rumours about Kylian Mbappe's future did not disrupt his team's preparations for Tuesday's Champions League match against Benfica. Stuttering PSG were held to a third straight draw as the game at the Parc des Princes ended 1-1 after Mbappe put them ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time.

It came after various media reports in Spain and France earlier in the day suggested Mbappe would seek to leave PSG in the January transfer window, despite only signing a new three-year contract at the end of last season. "I know nothing," Galtier said when asked about the reports following Tuesday's game. "All I know is that a rumour became a story and then that almost became a declaration. "I found it very surprising that such a story should come out just before such a big game."

He added: "I didn't see anything unusual in Kylian's preparation for the game, and he played with a lot of rhythm and intensity and gave a response to the rumours. "We remained focused on the match and I don't think the rumour disrupted our preparations."

Mbappe's goal was his 12th of the season for his club in 13 games but he is reportedly unhappy at his positioning in the PSG team and that the Qatar-owned outfit did not sign a top-class centre-forward in the close season. He had been expected to move to Real Madrid at the end of the last campaign before opting to stay in Paris with the club he first joined from Monaco in 2017.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/club-is-bigger-than-anything-else-thierry-henry-hits-out-at-kylian-mbappe-amid-psg-exit-rumours-524789">Club is bigger than anything else: Thierry Henry hits out at Kylian Mbappe amid PSG exit rumours</a>

Galtier questioned the motivation behind the reports coming out when they did, with PSG -- minus the injured Lionel Messi -- missing the chance to secure qualification for the Champions League last 16 with two group games to spare following the draw. "That this rumour should emerge just four or five hours before this game, I am entitled to be surprised," he said. "Who does this rumour help? Who is it useful to? Not us."

PSG, who play Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, are next in Champions League action at home to Maccabi Haifa on October 25. A win in that game will secure PSG's place in the knockout phase.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said rumours about Kylian Mbappe's future did not disrupt his team's preparations for Tuesday's Champions League match against Benfica.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said rumours about Kylian Mbappe's future did not disrupt his team's preparations for Tuesday's Champions League match against Benfica. Stuttering PSG were held to a third straight draw as the game at the Parc des Princes ended 1-1 after Mbappe put them ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time. It came after various media reports in Spain and France earlier in the day suggested Mbappe would seek to leave PSG in the January transfer window, despite only signing a new three-year contract at the end of last season. "I know nothing," Galtier said when asked about the reports following Tuesday's game. "All I know is that a rumour became a story and then that almost became a declaration. "I found it very surprising that such a story should come out just before such a big game." He added: "I didn't see anything unusual in Kylian's preparation for the game, and he played with a lot of rhythm and intensity and gave a response to the rumours. "We remained focused on the match and I don't think the rumour disrupted our preparations." Mbappe's goal was his 12th of the season for his club in 13 games but he is reportedly unhappy at his positioning in the PSG team and that the Qatar-owned outfit did not sign a top-class centre-forward in the close season. He had been expected to move to Real Madrid at the end of the last campaign before opting to stay in Paris with the club he first joined from Monaco in 2017. ALSO READ | Club is bigger than anything else: Thierry Henry hits out at Kylian Mbappe amid PSG exit rumours Galtier questioned the motivation behind the reports coming out when they did, with PSG -- minus the injured Lionel Messi -- missing the chance to secure qualification for the Champions League last 16 with two group games to spare following the draw. "That this rumour should emerge just four or five hours before this game, I am entitled to be surprised," he said. "Who does this rumour help? Who is it useful to? Not us." PSG, who play Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, are next in Champions League action at home to Maccabi Haifa on October 25. A win in that game will secure PSG's place in the knockout phase.

PSG not disrupted by Kylian Mbappe reports, reveals coach Christophe Galtier

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell said on Wednesday (October 12) that the world rankings system will become inaccurate and irrelevant if points are not awarded for events on the LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;Series. LIV&nbsp;Golf, which is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, submitted an application to the Official World&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;Ranking (OWGR) board in July, and earlier this month formed an alliance with the MENA Tour in a bid to fast-track its quest for ranking points.

The OWGR said it would make a decision after reviewing changes to the MENA Tour, prompting LIV&nbsp;golfers to say it was dragging its feet. Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson clinched the individual title in the LIV event in Bangkok on Sunday and McDowell said failure to award him ranking points meant the two-time major winner was not in his proper spot.

"This guy standing in the middle (Dustin Johnson) of the three of us, if his world ranking is inaccurate then the whole system's inaccurate," McDowell told a news conference on Wednesday, speaking alongside Johnson and Harold Varner III. "I feel like LIV tried to do everything they possibly can to be legitimate in the eyes of the OWGR. "The word 'Official' has to go away from OWGR if they don't take care of the players out here."

Johnson, whose ranking has dropped to 24th from third at the end of 2021, pocketed $18 million after clinching the individual LIV title with a 16th-place finish in Bangkok. "The longer it takes obviously the more irrelevant it becomes for us. Because if you wait too long, all our rankings are going to drop so much that it's not even going to really, it's not going to matter for us," Johnson said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/twice-major-winner-dustin-johnson-pockets-18-million-as-inaugural-liv-series-champion-524373">Twice major winner Dustin Johnson pockets $18 million as inaugural LIV Series champion</a>

Asked if he regretted joining LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;after earning around $30 million, Johnson replied sarcastically. "I really regret my decision to come here. It's just so terrible. I'm sitting there last night thinking about it, it was really bothering me a lot. Yeah, I just can't get over it." LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;has lured away some of the U.S.-based PGA Tour's top members with huge sums of money, leading to a simmering feud between the sport's top players and organisers.

Players who compete in the breakaway series have been suspended from the PGA Tour. Attempts of Europe's DP World Tour to follow suit have so far been unsuccessful with LIV players still eligible to compete at its showcase events pending a court hearing next year.

On Tuesday, former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama said he was "fully committed" to the PGA Tour but thought&nbsp;golfers competing on the LIV should be eligible for ranking points. LIV's individual competition concludes in Jeddah from Oct. 14-16 before a final team championship in Miami.

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell said on Wednesday (October 12) that the world rankings system will become inaccurate and irrelevant if points are not awarded for events on the LIV Golf Series.

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell said on Wednesday (October 12) that the world rankings system will become inaccurate and irrelevant if points are not awarded for events on the LIV Golf Series. LIV Golf, which is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, submitted an application to the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) board in July, and earlier this month formed an alliance with the MENA Tour in a bid to fast-track its quest for ranking points. The OWGR said it would make a decision after reviewing changes to the MENA Tour, prompting LIV golfers to say it was dragging its feet. Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson clinched the individual title in the LIV event in Bangkok on Sunday and McDowell said failure to award him ranking points meant the two-time major winner was not in his proper spot. "This guy standing in the middle (Dustin Johnson) of the three of us, if his world ranking is inaccurate then the whole system's inaccurate," McDowell told a news conference on Wednesday, speaking alongside Johnson and Harold Varner III. "I feel like LIV tried to do everything they possibly can to be legitimate in the eyes of the OWGR. "The word 'Official' has to go away from OWGR if they don't take care of the players out here." Johnson, whose ranking has dropped to 24th from third at the end of 2021, pocketed $18 million after clinching the individual LIV title with a 16th-place finish in Bangkok. "The longer it takes obviously the more irrelevant it becomes for us. Because if you wait too long, all our rankings are going to drop so much that it's not even going to really, it's not going to matter for us," Johnson said. ALSO READ | Twice major winner Dustin Johnson pockets $18 million as inaugural LIV Series champion Asked if he regretted joining LIV Golf after earning around $30 million, Johnson replied sarcastically. "I really regret my decision to come here. It's just so terrible. I'm sitting there last night thinking about it, it was really bothering me a lot. Yeah, I just can't get over it." LIV Golf has lured away some of the U.S.-based PGA Tour's top members with huge sums of money, leading to a simmering feud between the sport's top players and organisers. Players who compete in the breakaway series have been suspended from the PGA Tour. Attempts of Europe's DP World Tour to follow suit have so far been unsuccessful with LIV players still eligible to compete at its showcase events pending a court hearing next year. On Tuesday, former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama said he was "fully committed" to the PGA Tour but thought golfers competing on the LIV should be eligible for ranking points. LIV's individual competition concludes in Jeddah from Oct. 14-16 before a final team championship in Miami.

World rankings inaccurate if LIV events snubbed, says former US champion Graeme McDowell

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