The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to drop Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the annual central players contract. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo was suspended for one match and fined for ‘obscene gesture’ towards crowd.
Let's have a look at the top 10 trending sports news on February 29's sports roundup:
BCCI announced annual central contracts list for players
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on February 28 (Wednesday) announced the list of players who got annual central contracts.
Grade A-plus: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja
Grade A: R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya.
Grade B: Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Grade C: Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, KS Bharat, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan and Rajat Patidar
Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan punished by BCCI
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer who did not feature in Ranji Trophy 2023-24 have been dropped from the BCCI's annual central contract list.
Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel set to secure Grade C in annual contracts
The Indian cricket board said that players will be included in Grace C on a pro-rata basis if they have fulfilled the minimum requirement of three Tests or eight ODIs or 10 T20Is within the specified period which is from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Both Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan have played two Test matches so far. They will be included in Group C if they play the fifth and final Test of the series against England in Dharamsala.
UP Warriorz get off the mark in WPL season 2
Without their captain Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team, Mumbai Indians experienced a lackluster fielding performance, resulting in their inaugural loss in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024. The UP Warriorz capitalized on this opportunity, with Kiran Navgire's swift 57 runs off 31 balls, and the subsequent formidable efforts from Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma, to secure a resounding seven-wicket win well ahead of time, with 21 balls remaining. This victory not only marked the Warriorz's first win of the season after two initial setbacks but also significantly improved their net run rate (NRR).
Alyssa Healy tackles pitch invader during WPL match
During the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 match on February 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, UP Warriorz' Alyssa Healy showcased her quick reflexes not just behind the stumps but also in handling an unexpected pitch invasion. A fan managed to bypass the security measures at the stadium and ventured onto the field, leading Healy, fully equipped in her wicket-keeping gear, to take matters into her own hands. She made a commendable effort to halt the intruder, ensuring the game's smooth progression.
Yashasvi Jaiswal rises to 12th in ICC Test batters Rankings
In the latest ICC Test rankings for batters, young Indian sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal has made significant strides, climbing to the 12th spot and surpassing his captain Rohit Sharma, who now sits at the 13th position.
Cristiano Ronaldo suspended for one game
Celebrated football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the center of controversy and has been handed a one-match suspension following his actions during a match in the Saudi Pro League, where he plays for Al Nassr. The incident in question occurred after a league game against rival team Al Shabab, where Ronaldo was seen making a gesture that was deemed offensive by the league's disciplinary committee.
Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers to fight for PKL crown
Puneri Paltan triumphantly clinched their place in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 finals with a commanding 37-21 win over the three-time champions Patna Pirates at Hyderabad's GMC Balayogi Stadium on Wednesday. In the other semi-final, The Haryana Steelers showcased strategic brilliance to overcome the Jaipur Pink Panthers with a 31-27 victory, securing their spot in the PKL Season 10 finals.
Stellar show from Indian shooters
At the national selection trials, India's premier rifle shooters showcased their exceptional skills, with Paris Olympics quota recipient Arjun Babuta clinching wins in back-to-back events. In addition, Ashi Chouksey, who has three Asian Games medals to her name, broke the world record en route to her triumph in Bhopal on February 28.
Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden pair continue good form
Top seeds Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships with a straight-set victory over the Tunisian-Pakistani duo of Skander Mansouri and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in Dubai on February 28.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer can once again get annual central contracts, BCCI official explains how
BCCI announces annual central contracts; no Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer on the list
