Pogba ban cut, India’s T20 rout, clash of Premier League wannabes, what happened overnight

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Elevation to the English Premier League grants the keys to enormous wealth, which is how the play-off final to determine the last team promoted came to be dubbed “the richest game in football”.

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Friday night brought an early gauge of two of those jostling for position in the second-tier Championship. Leaders Sunderland hosted fifth-placed Leeds United, who were close enough behind to potentially leapfrog them in the table. Either could go straight up in May; either could be headed for that high-stakes final at Wembley.

Statements were waiting to be made at the Stadium of Light while you were sleeping, but first came a statement about Paul Pogba and a notable cricket result on day two of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Jannik Sinner speaks during a press conference at the Shanghai Masters on Friday. Photo: AFP

CAS talks Pogba, Sinner

The doping ban of French footballer Pogba has been reduced from four years to 18 months, a spokesperson of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.

Juventus midfielder Pogba was banned by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in February, having tested positive for testosterone in August last year – a result he said was caused by a food supplement prescribed by a doctor. He will be able to play again as of March 11 next year.

As one doping-related saga moved to the CAS out-tray, another joined the to-do pile, namely that surrounding Jannik Sinner.

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CAS also said on Friday it had registered an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in the case of the world No 1 tennis player, though had yet to set a date for a hearing.

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