Messi back in training

Djokovic ensured No. 1 ranking after Nadal's pull-out

Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Paris Masters on Wednesday guaranteeing Novak Djokovic's return to world number one spot.

Announcing his withdrawal at a hastily arranged press conference Nadal said: "My abdominal muscles haven't felt good for the past few days, especially on serve, doctors recommended that I didn't play."

Djokovic becomes the first player to start the season outside the top 20 and end up top of the ATP rankings since Marat Safin in 2000.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion had begun his pursuit of the top spot in encouraging fashion with a 7-5, 6-1 defeat of Joao Sousa on Tuesday, his 19th consecutive win.            – Afp

'48 teams feasible for Qatar WC'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams was "feasible" on Wednesday, as hosts Qatar pledged to come to a decision in the early part of next year.

Infantino said "Why not?" bring forward the expansion from 32 teams to 48, which is currently due at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"We have decided... to increase the number of teams participating in the World Cup final tournaments from 32 to 48," Infantino told the Asian Football Confederation's annual congress in Kuala Lumpur.

"It will happen in 2026. Will it happen in 2022? You know me. It is possible. It is possible. Why not?" he added.    – Afp

14-year-old hits unbeaten 556

14-year-old Baroda resident Priyanshu Moliya smashed an astonishing unbeaten 556 in a single innings during a two-day game on Tuesday. He is being mentored by World Cup winner Mohinder Amarnath.

In a 319-ball knock, the teenager hit 98 fours and just one six, taking his team, the Mohinder Amarnath Cricket Academy, to a mammoth score of 826-4 in a Shri DK Gaekwad Under-14 tournament game.

Apart from his humungous score, he also took four wickets with his off-spin, helping his side bundle out Yogi CA for 52 runs.

– Agencies

Neymar risks prison over

Barca move

A Spanish magistrate leading an investigation into alleged irregularities in Neymar's move to Barcelona in 2013 said Wednesday the Brazilian superstar could face up to six years in prison.

"The term imposed, in principle, could be between four and six years," said a decree issued by judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia, a copy of which was seen by AFP.

Neymar, his parents, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell are all awaiting trial over alleged corruption concerning Neymar's move to the Spanish La Liga giants in 2013.               – Afp

#MeToo response makes BCCI

look poor: Ganguly

Former captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his "deep sense of fear" about the running of Indian cricket as he slammed the sloppy handling of #MeToo allegations against board chief executive Rahul Johri, among other key issues.

Johri was accused of sexual harassment on October 12 in an account shared by author Harnidh Kaur on Twitter.

"I write this mail to you all with the deep sense of fear as to where Indian cricket administration is going," Ganguly wrote to BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary, president CK Khanna and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary, in a letter seen by AFP.

"I don't know how far it's true, but the recent reports of harassment has really made the BCCI look very poorly... more so the way it has been handled," he said.   – Afp