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The International Cricket Council (ICC) is discussing a hybrid World Cup model for this year's marquee event set to be played later in the year. While India are currently the solo hosts for the event, seems like Pakistan may get to play their matches in Bangladesh. Notably, the news comes after a similar model is being considered for the Asia Cup 2023 where Pakistan are the hosts but India's reluctance to tour their neighbouring country could see India matches happening at a neutral venue.

The proposal was reportedly discussed in an ICC meeting and seems to have been given a nod by the participating members despite Indian government's assurance to the world cricket governing body that visas will be graned to the Pakistan players for the World Cup.

This is a significant development since this was set to be the first time that India would have hosted a World Cup all on its own. Before this though, matches of two Cups- 1987 and the 2011 editions of the tournament have happened on Indian soil but on both the occasions, India were co-hosts with Pakistan as the other host country in 1987 and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh sharing the hosting duties in 2011.

There will be several logistical challenges though even if the hybrid model is given a green light. For instance, while it would be easier to schedule their group stage matches in Bangladesh, it could be hard to work out a way in case India and Pakistan qualifty for a knockout game up against one another.

As far as Asia Cup is concerned, Oman, Sri Lanka, UAE and England are the countries that have emerged as options which could host India matches. The new format of the tournament opens the possibility of a three India-Pakistan matches in the competition, in case both make it to the final. This year the tournament will be played in the ODI format.

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ICC Mulling Hybrid World Cup 2023 Model, Pakistan Likely To Play Its Matches In Bangladesh - ABP Live

The 35-year-old Benzema has been hampered by niggling injuries at times this season.

According to AS, Los Blancos have set their sights on Haaland, the Norwegian international who currently plays for Manchester City.

Haaland has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 28 goals and providing five assists in 26 Premier League games.

He also equalled Lionel Messi's freak record of scoring five goals in a single UEFA Champions League knockout game, before being taken off by Pep Guardiola in the 7-0 win over RB Leipzig.

So far, Haaland has scored 42 goals in the 37 games he has played for City.

Real came close to signing Gabriel Jesus last summer, but the move fell apart due to the limitation on the number of non-EU players allowed. Now, they are looking to sign Haaland in 2024 after losing out to Manchester City last year.

There were reports doing the rounds that Haaland had a release clause which would become active in 2024. However, it has been claimed that the clause was linked with Pep Guardiola's future at City and since he renewed until 2025, Haaland's exit clause is no longer applicable.

Despite these claims, Real Madrid are not worried and plan to move for Haaland next year. The Premier League top scorer's signing in 2024 will be independent of what happens with the club's interest in Kylian Mbappe. Real are not ruling out the possibility of bringing Haaland, Mbappe, and Vinicius together in 2024.

READ MORE:Euro 2024 qualifier tips: France vs Netherlands - Kylian Mbappe leads French new wave

The La Liga giants are looking to establish a new order with players like Toni Kroos (33), Eden Hazard (32), Luka Modric (37), and Benzema likely to step away after next season.

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Real Madrid aiming to sign Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in ... - PlanetSport

DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson is expecting an entertaining affair when Harlequins visit Cape Town in the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16.

The United Rugby Championship (URC) outfit are debuting in EPCR competitions this season and they welcome a Quins side who were the joint-third highest try-scorers in the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage.

DHL Stormers drew 22-22 with Leinster Rugby in the URC last Friday and Dobson says that game was the perfect preparation for their Round of 16 showdown in the South African sun.

The first task was to get the guys battle-hardened and ready for Harlequins, which is a knockout game, he said.

It looks like were going to be ready [for Quins]. Weve done quite a bit of work on them. Its going to be a great spectacle in our conditions, with their style of rugby.

Dobson went on to identify the threats posed by Quins England international half-back combination of Danny Care and Marcus Smith, while also picking out South African centre Andr Esterhuizen as a key man for the visitors.

I mean, Danny Care and Marcus Smith, theyve got real skill with those two half-backs, he highlighted.

They play a great, attractive brand of rugby, so we are going to do what we did against Leinster slow some ball down (at the breakdown), stop Andre Esterhuizen.

Its going to be a great spectacle with hopefully 50,000 people in the DHL Stadium.

Read more from the original source:
DHL Stormers ready for Quins 'spectacle' in Cape Town - EPC Rugby

March 25, 2023 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) - Florida Tropics SC News Release

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Tropics have assured themselves of a post-season spot in the 2023 Ron Newman Cup playoffs, but the sprint to the regular season finish line will still have plenty attached to it as six different Eastern Division teams are still alive for a playoff spot.

The Tropics are currently in third place, and can finish no worse than fifth. But they are hoping to improve on their third place spot right now, a point back of the Baltimore Blast, and three points ahead of Utica who has played one more game than Florida.

Utica will be in town Sunday for the first of three straight at home to finish the 24-game regular season. A win Sunday would assure the Tropics finish no worse than third in the division.

The St. Louis Ambush, still trying to chase down the Kansas City Comets for the fifth spot in the East, will come to Lakeland to finish out the regular season with games Friday, March 31 and Sunday, April 2.

The playoffs will start the following weekend with a one-game play in game between the No. 4 and No. 5 finishers in the division at the home arena of the No. 4 team. Then, playoffs move to the divisional semi-final round which will be a best of three series, with each team hosting one home game. If the games are split, then a 15-minute knockout game will be held at the immediate conclusion of the second game.

If the Tropics can catch Baltimore for second, they would have homefield advantage for the divisional semi-finals. Baltimore has a home and home series with the Mesquite Outlaws this weekend.

Sunday's game at the RP Funding Center starts at 3:05 p.m. and will be broadcast live on MASL TV on Twitch.

The Tropics are led offensively by Ricardo Carvalho with 17 goals and 13 assists. Defenseman Drew Ruggles and forward Vini Dantas each have 16 goals on the season. For Utica, Gordy Gurson is pacing the offense with 20 goals and 19 assists.

Home game tickets are available starting at just $7 per game by calling the arena box office at 863-834-8111. Although tickets are also available online at http://www.rpfundingcenter.com, service fees are significantly higher through Ticketmaster as opposed to calling the box office directly.

Discuss this story on the Major Arena Soccer League message board...

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Sprint to Post-Season Features Three Home Games, Starting ... - OurSports Central

Garang Kuol is only 19, but is already the poster boy for Australias next generation, after playing a noteworthy role off the bench for the Socceroos at the World Cup. Having made waves in the A-league the season prior, Kuol was quickly snapped up by Newcastle (in the midst of splashing big cash on the likes of Isak, Sven Botman and Nick Pope) before his true break out in Qatar.

The teenager became the youngest player since Pele to play a World Cup knockout game, as the Socceroos bowed out in the Round of 16 in a tight loss at the hands of eventual victors Argentina . The 19-year-old impressed in a bench cameo, and would have scored a late equaliser but for an outstanding save from Argentinas Emiliano Martinez in goal.

Described by his junior coach as having a play style like Kylian Mbappe and Newcastles Allan Saint-Maximin, the rapid winger has an eye for goal like the French maestros, and even crossed paths with Mbappe in Qatar, in France and Australias World Cup opener.

While its early days yet in Kuols fledgling club career, his international form shows signs of the potential superstar he could be for the Toon. Overnight, Kuol calmly tapped home the winning goal (and his first in internationals) in a comfortable 3-1 win for the Roos over Ecuador in Sydney.Coming on for Awer Mabil in the 78th minute, Kuol (a natural right winger) found himself playing centrally when, 6 minutes later, he put the finishing touches inside the 6 yard box on a well worked Australian move. Starting tight up against the Ecuadorian centre back (Bayer Leverkusens Piero Hincapie) Kuol used his explosive acceleration to get into the ample space between Hincapie and the left back, Brightons Pervis Estupinan. Kuol checked his run just enough to get into the 6-yard box in time to tap in Aziz Behichs cross for the Socceroos third (albeit slightly scuffed).

Newcastle fans will hope Kuol can take the confidence of his first goal in green and gold back to club level, where (on loan at Heart of Midlothian)the wonder-kid has struggled. After three months in Scotland Kuol is yet to score, but if he can play with the swagger and skill he did in Sydney, it wont be long before he breaks his duck and begins fulfilling his enormous potential.

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Newcastle Uniteds wonderkind Garang Kuol scores debut international goal - The Top Flight