Sports News 12:30

NEWSFLASH SPORTS NEWS 14 November 12:30 pm

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

# First off is cricket: Former Proteas quick bowler Morné Morkel is leaving his position as fast-bowling coach of Pakistan – a month before his contract expires. He was appointed in June and helped the country to finish the World Cup in fifth place in the standings. The Pakistani Cricket Board announced that Morkel has resigned after the team exited the tournament, without any giving any reason. The governing body says a replacement will be announced in due course. Morkel has become an Australian citizen since ending his playing career in 2018.

# Next up is rugby: Sharks coach John Plumtree has called for patience saying things will change. The side’s 12-10 loss to Italian side Zebre Parma last week Friday has left them without a win from their opening four games of the United Rugby Championship. Plumtree says when he came in he knew there would be no overnight fix, but what he can promise fans is that they will do everything to get things right. The Sharks’ Springboks will only return in a week’s time after an enforced three-week break after the World Cup.

# Now off to soccer: Bafana Bafana will start their qualifying campaign for 2026’s World Cup against Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday. Three days later, they will have a tough away assignment against Rwanda. Bafana hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 2006 and hasn’t won a major continental title since lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. There has been progress under coach Hugo Broos, with the team unbeaten in over a year. Broos is confident they can continue their good form:

Play sound:

# A look-in at tennis: Two-time champion Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, to get off to a winning start in the Red Group at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. Twenty-year-old Alcaraz is making his debut at the season-ending tournament. The Red Group’s other singles match, saw third seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia beat compatriot Andrey Rublev, 6-4, 6-2. Zverev says his serve helped him a lot in the match against Alcaraz:

Play sound:

# And we close with motorsport: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says they have a better understanding of the mistakes that led to their poor performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton finished seventh and George Russell had to retire the car due to overheating. Wolff says they have been hard at work to identify the wrong turn they took with the set-up in Sao Paulo, following promising performances in the US and Mexico. He adds that they will need to be better in Las Vegas this weekend, as they look to secure second position in the Constructors’ Championship.

Stay tuned for more news………….