* England soccer legend Jimmy Greaves no more
Former England striker and Tottenham’s record goal-scorer Jimmy Greaves has died at the age of 81 on Sunday (19). Greaves began his career with Chelsea before spells at AC Milan, Spurs, and West Ham. He scored 44 goals in 57 games for England and was a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad. He holds the record for most goals in the English top flight with 357, and scored 266 in 379 matches for Tottenham.
* PCB approaches SLC
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), being jolted with blow after New Zealand abandoned their tour on Friday (17), had reached the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for short tours in order to compensate for the cancelled series, Indi media said on Sunday (19). But the latter two boards have turned down the request, those reports added.
* Minod Bhanuka comes in for Madushanka
Wicketkeeper-batsman Minod Bhanuka is reportedly coming in for the injured Lahiru Madushanka in the 19-member Sri Lanka contingent for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, starting next month in UAE. The final 15-player squad for the World Cup will only be finalised in the coming days, sources confirmed. Along with Bhanuka, four other players were named over the weekend a stand-bys, making it a total of 24 players who will be in consideration for the final fifteen. Those stand-bys are Bhanuka, Ramesh Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Pathum Nissanka, and Lakshan Sandakan.
* Broad okay to go to Ashes
England pace bowler Stuart Broad says he would travel to Australia for this winter’s Ashes but the players need more information about the tour. Some players are considering pulling out over the conditions it will be played in and whether their families will be allowed to travel. Australia has some of the strictest Covid-19 protocols in the world. “If you ask me if I would be happy to get on a plane to Australia, I would say yes,” Broad said.
* Pacquiao to run for Philippine presidency
Philippine boxing star Manny Pacquiao says he is to run for President in next year’s election. He was nominated as a candidate by a faction of the ruling party, PDP-Laban. On top of a glittering career as a fighter, Pacquiao, 42, is already a senator in the Philippines’ parliament. Incumbent Rodrigo Duterte is barred from another term but has been picked by a rival party faction to run for Vice President, a move critics say is an attempt to cling to power.