World Sports: Bangladesh Beat Sri Lanka By 6 Wickets In 1st ODI - As It Happened

In today's sports coverage from around the world, the Ranji Trophy final Mumbai etched closer to victory against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium. Staying with cricket, in WPL 2024, Delhi Capitals defeated Gujarat Giants in the final league encounter, and Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in the 1st ODI. Elsewhere, the All England Open Badminton Championships 2024 continues as Satwik-Chirag eye another title. Catch all the highlights and updates of the sporting world on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 here. (Cricket News | Football News)

That's all we have for the March 13 coverage from the world of sports. Stay tuned for more.

Delhi Capitals and England batter Harry Brook on Wednesday said he has pulled out of the upcoming Indian Premier League because he wants to be around his grieving family after the death of his grandmother who died in February.

"I can confirm that I have made the very difficult decision not to play in the upcoming IPL," Brook said in a statement.

"I was so excited to be picked by Delhi Capitals and was so looking forward to joining up with everyone. Whilst I don't think I should need to share my personal reasons behind this decision, I know there will be many asking why. So I do want to share this.

"I lost my grandmother last month - she was a rock to me and I spent a huge amount of my childhood in her home; my attitude to life and love for cricket was shaped by her and my late grandfather," the 25-year-old wrote. (PTI)

In awe of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's longevity, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has compared the legendary wicket-keeper batter to a "diesel engine that never ends". It is incredibly difficult for a player to be playing at the highest level for so long. But Dhoni has been doing preciously that for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is expected to lead the defending champions for the record 15th season during IPL 2024, having captained the side to a record-equalling fifth title last year. "There were a lot of rumours about MS Dhoni finishing up last year; that was not the case, ladies and gentlemen. He would be back again. "Will this be his final season? No one knows. He just seems to be this diesel engine that never ends. He keeps running. What an incredible player, what an incredible captain," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. (PTI)

An unbeaten Najmul Hossain Shanto century (122 not out) along with Mushfiqur Rahim (72 not out) half-century was enough to hand Bangladesh a victory over Sri Lanka by six wickets in the first ODI.

The Palestinian Football Federation says former national team member Mohammed Barakat was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. The federation says the 39-year-old Barakat was killed in a strike on a residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis. Affectionately known as “the lion” by fellow players, Barakat had played for the national team and some clubs in Gaza, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. He began his professional career in 2015 with Shabab Khanyounis, where he became the first player in Gaza to score 100 goals with a single team. (AP)

Check the schedule of the Indian badminton contingent at the All England Open Badminton Championships 2024

Star Indian para shooter Manish Narwal won a silver medal each in the men's 10m air pistol (SH1) individual and team events at the WSPS Para Shooting World Cup on Wednesday. Narwal shot 236.7 to finish behind Chao Yang of China (240.3), who claimed the top step on the podium while Korea's Jeongdu Jo of Korea settled for the bronze (214.7) in individual section. (PTI)

The biggest find of New Zealand's World Cup campaign in India, Rachin Ravindra on Wednesday became the youngest recipient of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal after becoming the country's best male cricketer of the year. Among women, Melie Kerr grabbed the major prizes at the New Zealand Cricket Awards. Kane Williamson was recognised for his outstanding form in the Test arena with the ANZ Test Player of the Year Award, and winning the Redpath Cup for men's first-class batting. At 24, Ravindra is the youngest winner in the award's history, after a season that's seen him become a mainstay of New Zealand's red and white ball sides. (PTI)

Karun Nair (74) and skipper Akshay Wadkar (56 not out) helped Vidarbha execute a remarkable fightback ending day four of the Ranji Trophy final at 248/5 chasing the target of mammoth 538 set by Mumbai who is en route to lifting their 42nd Ranji Trophy title.

In the third T20 match of the Samarth Championship for Blind Cricket, India thrashed Sri Lanka by 7 wickets chasing the target of 163 runs in just 15.3 overs at the Karnail Singh Stadium, Delhi, taking an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the five-match series.

Lecce Football Club announced Luca Gotti to be the team's new coach two days after Roberto D'Aversa was fired for appearing to headbutt an opposing player. Gotti, the former assistant of Chelsea in 2018-19 has also served as the head coach at Udinese and Spezia recently.

Indian pacer, Mohammad Shami sustained an ankle injury in January, preventing him from taking part in the Test series against England as well as in the IPL 2024. After 15 days of surgery, he updated his recovery, moving forward to the "healing journey".

The world No.1 Iga Swiatek continuing her phenomenal run at the BNP Paribas Open 2024 defeated the Kazakhtan's Yulia Putintseva in straight sets 6-1 6-2 to enter the quarter-final round. She is gearing up to face Caroline Wozniacki next at Indian Wells.

Ravichandran Ashwin, after a remarkable performance in India's Test series against England, regained the top spot in the bowler's list. Following a nine-wicket haul in the 100th Test match in Dharamsala, he replaced Jasprit Bumrah at the premier position of ICC's latest rankings. Read more about it here.

Vidarbha have reached 104/2 (38 overs) at lunch on Day 4 of their Ranji Trophy title clash against Mumbai. The Akshay Wadkar-led team is chasing an improbable target of 538 runs for the title. Though they lost the wickets of openers Atharva Taide and Dhruv Shorey, Vidarbha have added 94 runs in 36 overs in the first session. They still have a mountain to climb, however against a charged-up Mumbai.

Saudi Arabia's Pro League outfit Al-Hilal have set a world record for a top-tier team by winning their 28th consecutive match, with a 2-0 victory over Al-Ittihad to reach the Asian Champions League semi-finals. Al-Hilal had also won the quarter-finals first leg by the same score to advance 4-0 on aggregate over their domestic rivals.

Though banned by UEFA from European competitions this season for breaking financial rules, Juventus have still qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup with Napoli crashing out of the Champions League, Associated Press reports. Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Napoli in the second leg of the round of 16 sealed a 4-2 win on aggregate score, that has ensured Juventus' advancement through a European ranking system to the revamped FIFA event.

Earlier in the day, Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz breezed into the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Open, beating Fabian Marozsan in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to set up a last-eight clash with Alexander Zverev.

Both Arsenal and Barcelona have progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with wins in their return-leg fixtures over Porto and Napoli, respectively. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya tipped one spot kick by Porto’s Wendell against the post and then palmed away another from Galeno to secure a 4-2 win in a penalty shootout for the hosts after the tie was level 1-1 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Fermin Lopez, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski scored for Barcelona as they advanced 4-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Italy three weeks ago.