1. Dhoni Unwinds With Daughter
India’s limited overs captain MS Dhoni has been able to spend some quality time with his family since he retired from Test cricket last December. He recently posted a picture of him with his daughter Ziva on Facebook.
Ziva was born on 6 December, when Indians were preparing for the World Cup. Dhoni didn’t come back to India for the birth of his child due to national commitments.
I’m on national duties so I think everything else can wait.MS Dhoni
2. Sri Lanka to Host India-Pakistan Cricket Series This December?
Following the meeting of the two board chiefs in Dubai on Sunday, Sri Lanka is now fast emerging as the top choice to host a curtailed Indo-Pak cricket series this December.
With only a month’s window available after India finish their Test Series against South Africa on December 7, the series is likely to be confined to three ODIs and two T20 Internationals instead of the original two Tests, five ODIs and two T20 Internationals, according to top BCCI sources.
3. Messi Regains Full Fitness
Barcelona’s manager Luis Enrique said that Lionel Messi is fit and raring to go. Messi made his first appearance against Real Madrid on Saturday after incurring a knee injury in September.
The manager added that Messi will not be held back due to injury any more.
He is back fit and this is a joy for us - to see the greatest player back again and now we get to enjoy him. Messi is fully recovered, he is already in the right frame of mind and his injury is forgotten. He has to recover his muscle tone and his form, but you have to play to recover that.Luis Enrique
4. Rafael Benitez Hangs on in Real Madrid
La Liga club Real Madrid has decided to hang on with their manager Rafael Benitez, said president of the club Florentino Perez.
But Benitez will remain in a difficult situation because of the humiliating 4-0 loss to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday.
Real Madrid fans vividly showed their dissatisfaction, frantically waving white goodbye handkerchiefs and loudly jeering.
It was a clear message to coach Rafa Benitez: It’s time for you to go.
Another setback could mean the end of the line for the coach, no matter what the president says.
Spanish media was already discussing Benitez’s replacement, and the name atop the list was former Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane, who is coaching Madrid’s B team in the third division.
5. Gerrard to Don Liverpool Shirt Again
Former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard will don the Liverpool jersey again in a game against the Australian legends side at the ANZ stadium in January.
Gerrard, who recently quit playing in the premier league at the end of the last season and moved to the Major League Soccer in America, where he plays for the LA Galaxy will be leading Liverpool’s all star side which include Jamie Carragher, Luis Garcia, Dietmar Hamann, Ian Rush, Danny Murphy and John Aldridge.
The squad looks like it’s a great set of lads, it’ll be good to get on the pitch with them. Our fans are the best and to play in front of them again will be emotional, I’m sure.Steven Gerrard
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