FIFA World Cup 2018 stadiums: The pitch is all set for footballing giants. Ball tampering scandal: Steve Smith, David Warner 1 year ban by Cricket Australia. 31-year-old Italy international footballer Davide Astori found dead. ACF Fiorentina captain and Italian international Davide Astori, 31, has died due to a sudden illness, the Italian football club announced on Sunday.
"Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that club captain Davide Astori has died, caught by a sudden illness," Fiorentina said in a statement. According to media reports, Astori, who played 14 times for Italy as a defender, died in his sleep in his team's hotel ahead of their Series A clash against Udinese away. "For the terrible and delicate situation, and above all for the respect of his family, appeal is made to everyone's sensibility," Fiorentina said. The match against Udinese has been postponed following the announcement of the death of the former Cagliari player, a product of the famed AC Milan academy.
Pacer Jhulan Goswami becomes first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets. India's veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami on Wednesday added another feather to her illustrious cap by becoming the first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets.
Goswami achieved the feat during the second ODI between India and South Africa here. The 35-year-old, playing her 166th ODI, dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for her 200th scalp. Interestingly, the first male cricketer to pick 200 ODI wickets, was also an Indian -- the great Kapil Dev. In May 2017, Goswami became the highest wicket-taker in women's ODIs, eclipsing the decade-long record held by Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick. Goswami, hailing from a small town called Chakdaha in Nadia district of West Bengal, made her debut way back in 2002.
MS Dhoni becomes 4th wicket-keeper to effect 400 dismissals in ODIs. India vs SA 2nd ODI: ICC left red faced over 'archaic' playing rules. The ICC on Sunday came in for sharp criticism for its bizarre rules on playing conditions after the play was stopped for lunch with India needing just two runs to win the second ODI against South Africa here today.
Both the on-field umpires -- veteran Aleem Dar and Adrian Holdstock and match referee Andy Pycroft was criticised by TV commentators and cricket pundits, who termed their decision to call for lunch as per ICC's 'rigid' playing condition rules with India needing just two runs to win as 'farce'. Opting to field, India bowled out South Africa for a meager 118 and they were comfortably placed at 117 for one in 18 overs when the umpires called for lunch as per ICC rules.
The decision did not go down well with all and sundry because the umpires had already extended pre-lunch play by three overs. At the scheduled time of break, India were 93 for one after 15 overs. Indian captain Virat Kohli named ICC Cricketer of the Year. In phenomenal form across formats, Indian captain Virat Kohli was today named the world cricketer of the year, besides bagging the top honour for ODI players in the ICC annual awards, announced here.
In the qualification period from September 21, 2016 to the end of 2017, Kohli scored 2,203 Test runs at an average of 77.80 including eight centuries, 1,818 ODI runs including seven centuries at 82.63, and 299 T20I runs at a strike rate of 153. He also captained India to the top of the ICC Test rankings. "It means a lot to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for becoming the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2017 and also the ICC ODI Player of the Year," Kohli was quoted as saying in an ICC statement. "I won that back in 2012 also but it's the first time winning the Garfield Sobers Trophy, and it's a huge honour for me.
It's probably the biggest of all in world cricket and two Indians getting it back-to-back makes it more special," he added. English players hit a six at IPL auction, veterans Pathan and Sharma unsold. Virat Kohli first Indian sportsperson to ink Rs 100-cr deal with Puma. IPL 2017 auction: Teams spoilt for choice as 358 players up for grabs. IPL 2017 auction LIVE: English bowler Tymal Mills goes to RCB for Rs 12 cr. CoA bars top BCCI officials from IPL players' auction. India thump Bangladesh by 208 runs in one-off Test. Delhi cricketer Ahlawat scores 300 in a T20 match. Alastair Cook quits as England Test captain.