Latest - Team owners and the NBA players' association have agreed on a shortened season to allow players from the world's best league to compete in next year's Tokyo Olympic Games.
LeBron James. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told a news conference, "The owners of NBA teams have agreed with the players' association on an early and shortened NBA season starting on Dec. 22.
"This will allow the best basketball players to play at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"This is what the players want. This is what the movement wants and may National Olympic Committees want very much. It is excellent news."
The Tokyo Games were due to be held in 2020 but were postponed to start in July 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-Reuters
Pakistan leave veterans out of test and T20 teams for NZ
Pakistan axed Asad Shafiq from their test team for the upcoming New Zealand tour, also omitting veterans Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik from the Twenty20 squad as part of their go-young policy in the short format.
Middle order batsman Shafiq managed only 67 runs in five innings in Pakistan's 1-0 series defeat in England in August.
"Asad Shafiq has been left out due to lack of form," head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said in a statement after announcing an expanded 35-member squad.
"I am sure he will utilise this time to work harder on his game in the domestic first-class matches so that he, like Sarfaraz Ahmed, can reclaim his form and be back in contention for the upcoming tests against South Africa and Zimbabwe."
The three T20s start on December the 18th in Auckland with the two-match test series beginning on Boxing Day at Mount Maunganui.
The touring party, which also includes Pakistan's A team, will leave for New Zealand on Nov. 23 and spend the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in Christchurch.
British Cycling sprint coach Stewart dismissed for gross misconduct
British Cycling has dismissed one of its top coaches after finding him guilty of gross misconduct including inappropriate relationships with riders.
Head men's sprint coach Kevin Stewart, who worked with six-time Olympic track champion Jason Kenny, had been given repeated warnings about his behaviour, British Cycling said in a statement.
Outlining the reasons for Stewart's dismissal, British Cycling said he had also inappropriately used electronic communication and had failed to follow specific direction of the Performance Director in regard to relationship with riders and professional boundaries.
The statement stressed that there was no evidence of a physical relationship between Stewart and any riders.
"I wholeheartedly apologise to the team for my actions, which I acknowledge were not acceptable," said Stewart, who has been with the organisation seven years during which time Britain has enjoyed great success on the track.
"I realised my actions had made my position on the team untenable and had handed in my resignation before being dismissed while on my notice period."
-Reuters
Maradona. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Argentina football legend Diego Maradona is due to be discharged from hospital and taken to a recovery clinic to be treated for alcohol dependency.
Maradona, who led his country to World Cup triumph in 1986, had a successful operation for possible bleeding on his brain earlier in November.
However, withdrawal symptoms kept him in hospital for longer.
"The good thing is that Diego is together, Diego is solid," his lawyer, Matias Morla, said.
Only a few close friends will be allowed to visit the 60-year-old at the rehabilitation clinic.
"Diego has gone through maybe the most difficult moment of his life and I think it was a miracle that they found this bleeding in his brain that could have cost him his life," his lawyer added.
-BBC