SPORTS – LOCAL/ NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL

Morocco became the 2nd African country after Senegal to make it to the knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after their 2-1 win over Canada in the Group F encounter on Dec 1 evening at Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha. For Morocco, this is only the 2nd time they are making it to the knockout stage since 1986 in Mexico when they defeated Portugal 3-1.

Belgium were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup at the group stage after playing a goalless draw against Croatia in a Group F match at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Ar-Rayyan on Dec 1. Croatia started off aggressively as in the first minute Luka Modric’s assist helped Ivan Perisic take a right-footed shot from the left

Lionel Messi missed a controversial first-half penalty for Argentina against Poland but his side recovered in time to register a 2-0 win, their second successive one and move into the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup as Group C winners. Argentina as group winners will take on Australia, which finished second in Group D.

Mexico’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia wasn't enough for it to qualify for the FIFA World Cup knockout stage with Poland snatching the second qualifying spot in the Group C behind Argentina.

With Portugal already through to the knockouts at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, their captain Cristiano Ronaldo may not play against South Korea in the final group match on Friday, Portugal's coach Fernando Santos said on the eve of the match. “Ronaldo will train and if he's good to go, he will play,” Santos said at a pre-match press conference.

La Liga is set to become the first competition in the world to make official goal-scoring balls available to fans, thanks to an innovative agreement with Gol-Ball. The agreement will come into effect on Jan 8, 2023, when La Liga resumes after the end of the ongoing World Cup.

Four England batters scored centuries as the visitors posted a daunting 506/4 in just 75 overs on Day 1 of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Dec 1. The visitors smashed 174 in the morning session, picked up 158 post lunch despite losing three wickets in quick succession, and scored 174 again in the curtailed final session.

Brilliant double centuries by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith kept Australia in a dominant position against the West Indies on the second day of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Dec 1. Labuschagne (204) completed his second Test double century while Smith (200 not out) made his fourth as Australia declared their first innings at 598/4.

Afghanistan’s ace leg spinner Rashid Khan has joined the New York Strikers in Abu Dhabi T10. Rashid said, “I am delighted to join a strong side like the New York Strikers … We want to win the Abu Dhabi T10 and on my part, I will try and produce the best deliveries to help my team in such a challenging format.”

Hosts Sri Lanka have boosted their chances of qualifying automatically for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in India with a thrilling four-wicket win over Afghanistan in a high-scoring match on Nov 30. The win also helped Sri Lanka stay in touch with the top-eight sides on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League standings.

A total of 991 players including 714 Indian and 277 overseas have registered to be part of the IPL 2023 Player Auction, which is set to take place on Dec 23 in Kochi, the BCCI announced on Dec 1. The IPL Player Registration closed on Nov 30 and the list includes 185 capped, 786 uncapped and 20 players from associate nations.

With five wins in seven games, 3rd placed Odisha FC have a chance to leapfrog Hyderabad FC and go level on points with league-leaders Mumbai City FC on Dec 2 as they host a struggling North- East United FC, who have no points from seven games in the Hero Indian Super League this season.

Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh is confident of a good showing from the national team in the Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela next year with the ‘good structure’ it has put in place over the last few years. With less than 50 days to go for the showpiece event, Sardar feels that the current set of players are a ‘talented lot’.

Assam Cricket Association announced cash awards of Rs 25 Lakh for the cricketers of Assam team for reaching the semi-finals in Vijay Hazare Cricket. Along with that a reward amounting to Rs 10 lakh was also announced for the support staff of the team.