Gayle to take field against India in T20 on Sunday

Big-hitting batsman Chris Gayle has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the lone T20 International against India on Sunday. Gayle, who is West Indies’ most successful batsman in the T20 format with 1519 runs at an average of 35.32, replaced Lendl Simmons, who had struggled for runs in the T20 series against Afghanistan. It will be Gayle’s first T20 match at his home ground, Sabina Park. The marauding batsman, who has two T20 centuries, last played an international match for the West Indies in the 2016 World T20 final against England at Eden Gardens. All-rounder Jason Holder, who leads the side in Tests and ODIs, has been rested again and the side will be led by Carlos Brathwaite.

Barcelona extend Messi’s contract until 2021

FC Barcelona extended the contract of Lionel Messi until June 30, 2021, the club announced on Thursday , just days after he wed his childhood sweetheart in Argentina. The club gave no details about the contract that will keep the Argentinian megastar and five times Ballon d’Or winner at Camp Nou until his reaches the age of 34. But Spain’s Marca sports daily reported that it included a ^300 million termination clause. His current contract was due to run out in June 2018.

Real buy French teenager Hernandez from Atletico

French left-back Theo Hernandez, 19, completed a cross-city transfer from Atletico to Real Madrid for a reported fee of 30 million euros ($34 million). The announcement ends a drawn out struggle for one of Europe’s up-and-coming talents, with the European and Spanish champions Real prising the youngster away from their city rivals.

Suthirta-Pooja duo wins Australian Open bronze

India duo of Sutirtha Mukherjee and Pooja Sahasrabudhe settled for bronze after they lost in the women’s doubles semifinals at the Seamaster 2017 Australian Open Table Tennis championship at Gold Coast. The Indians could not match their top seeded Chinese opponents Chen Meng and Zhu Ling, losing 4-11, 6-11, 2-11. Suthirtha and Pooja has defeated crowd favourites Miao Miao and Jian Fang Lay of Australia 3-1 (11-9, 12-14, 8-11, 9-11) to enter the last-four round.