Top Stories: Things that made news in the cricket world today

Australia vs India: Navdeep Saini to debut as visitors announce playing eleven for Sydney Test

• Navdeep Saini is all set to make his Test debut as he has been announced in India’s playing eleven for the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
• He has replaced Umesh Yadav, who has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests due to an injury.
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Reports: IPL 2021 auction likely in February; India first-choice as hosts for upcoming edition

• The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) has, pretty much, been on their toes, scratching their heads for the resumption of domestic cricket in the country that includes the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL).
• India remains the first-choice hosts of the T20 tournament, but the situation in the country regarding the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t quite under control yet.
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‘We are not at all annoyed’ – Ajinkya Rahane responds to reports of Team India being unhappy over bio-secure protocols in Sydney

• The talks regarding the quarantine have taken the centre stage in the build-up to the third Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
• The saga began when reports emerged that Team India was not keen on traveling to Queensland for the fourth Test because of the strict quarantine protocols in the state.
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Kyle Abbott returns to South Africa with white-ball contract

• South African Kyle Abbott is all set to return to South Africa who had left due to a Kolpak deal signed with Hampshire in 2017.
• He has now signed a contract with the Titans ahead of the One-Day Cup, starting on Saturday, January 9.
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‘He can counter-attack the Australian pacers’ – Virat Kohli’s childhood coach delighted with Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in playing XI for SCG Test

• Rohit Sharma is all set to make his much-anticipated return to Test cricket after being named in the playing eleven for the third Test against Australia.
• The match is scheduled to get underway on Thursday (January 7) at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
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Claire Polosak all set to become first female to officiate men’s Test during Australia-India Sydney Test

• The third Test between India and Australia is already going to be an interesting affair as the series is leveled at 1-1 currently.
• Adding to it, there will be another new element in the game where Australia’s Claire Polosak would become the first female match official to do the role in men’s Test match.
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‘I fear the world might stop inviting Pakistan for Test matches’ – Shoaib Akhtar on Pakistan’s horrendous show in New Zealand

• Pakistan was recently up against New Zealand on their soil for a T20I and Test series.
• After losing the limited-overs series, Pakistan was expected to show up some respectable game against Kiwis in the purest format, but they faced horrific loss.
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BCCI official hints at base price for new teams in IPL 2022

• The Indian Premier League is the prized commodity of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• The franchise-based tournament, which usually takes place in the summer months of March, April, and May in India allows the BCCI to rake in massive revenue every year.
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Reports: Virat Kohli’s personal investment in Team India’s kit sponsor sparks conflict of interest

• Virat Kohli, the skipper of the Indian cricket team, has found himself tangled in a mini-controversy regarding conflict of interest.
• Galactus Funware Technology Pvt Ltd, a start-up based in Bengaluru, has the 32-year-old has one of its investors.
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Fan who attended MCG Test tested positive for COVID-19; masks made mandatory for SCG Test

• Cricket Australia has gotten on its toes after a man, who attended the second Test at the MCG, was tested positive for COVID-19 after developing symptoms on January 5.
• The man in his 30s was seated in Zone 5 of the MCG under its COVID-19 safe protocols and was likely to have entered the ground through gate number five or six on December 27 between 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm.
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