Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 18 February 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start off with cricket: South Africa faces Australia, England and Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, starting in Pakistan tomorrow. Group A consists of the hosts, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Each team plays every other country in its group once, earning two points for a victory and one when no result is possible. The top two teams in each group then qualify for the semifinals. The Proteas’ first match is against Afghanistan on Friday, and the final takes place on the ninth of next month.

# Motorsport: Three South African riders are set to represent the country in the 2025 World Championship beginning in Thailand on 2 March and concluding in Valencia, Spain, on 16 November. Gqeberha-born teenager Ruche Moodley will make his debut in Moto3. The 18-year-old rider is the son of former SA Superbike champion Arushen Moodley. He now joins Brad Binder who is in MotoGP and his brother Darryn in Moto2, completing South Africa’s representation in all three tiers in the 22-race season.

# Soccer: Defending champions Orlando Pirates will face SuperSport United in the Nedbank quarterfinals in Tshwane in March. The Buccaneers are aiming for a third successive domestic cup triumph. Kaizer Chiefs, who are seeking their first trophy since 2015, has been drawn against Stellenbosch FC, while Durban City will play Marumo Gallants. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns’ opponent has not been confirmed, as the last 32 tie between Royal AM and Milford FC must still be played, and the winner will take on Sekhukhune United in the last 16.

# Tennis: Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic says the majority of players feel Jannik Sinner’s ban is strange and unfair, and believe there is favouritism for the bigger names in the sport. The Italian world number one accepted an immediate three-month ban, after reaching a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency over his two positive drug tests last year. Djokovic says a system overhaul is needed, to avoid lower-ranked players being treated differently after failing drugs tests:

# And finally, cycling: 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas plans to retire at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Welshman also won Olympic gold in team pursuit in 2008 and 2012, as well as three world titles. Thomas will tackle the Tour again this year in a supporting role for his British team, INEOS (ie-nie-JOS). He then plans to participate in the Tour of Britain in September before calling it quits. Thomas says after his retirement, he wants to participate in Strictly Come Dancing.

Stay tuned for more news………….