Pogba ban cut, India’s T20 rout, clash of Premier League wannabes: what happened overnight
Two contenders in England’s second tier test each other’s credentials, while Women’s T20 World Cup produces upset
Elevation to the English Premier League grants the keys to enormous wealth, which is how the play-off final to determine the last team promoted came to be dubbed “the richest game in football”.
Friday night brought an early gauge of two of those jostling for position in the second-tier Championship. Leaders Sunderland hosted fifth-placed Leeds United, who were close enough behind to potentially leapfrog them in the table. Either could go straight up in May; either could be headed for that high-stakes final at Wembley.
Statements were waiting to be made at the Stadium of Light while you were sleeping, but first came a statement about Paul Pogba and a notable cricket result on day two of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
CAS talks Pogba, Sinner
The doping ban of French footballer Pogba has been reduced from four years to 18 months, a spokesperson of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.
Juventus midfielder Pogba was banned by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February, having tested positive for testosterone in August last year – a result he said was caused by a food supplement prescribed by a doctor. He will be able to play again as of March 11 next year.
As one doping-related saga moved to the CAS out-tray, another joined the to-do pile, namely that surrounding Jannik Sinner.
CAS also said on Friday it had registered an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in the case of the world No 1 tennis player, though had yet to set a date for a hearing.
