Weekly Digest May 20-27: Niki Lauda's demise to Toronto Raptors making first-ever NBA finals

A round-up of all that happened in the world of sport in the past week as we continue to build up to the cricket World Cup.

Recognisable by the trademark red cap which hid scars from his racing accident, Niki Lauda never strayed far from Formula One.

CRICKET

India's first warm up match ahead of the World Cup didn't go according to it plan as its batting failed to challenge New Zealand at the Oval. ( REPORT )

India all-rounder Vijay Shankar was struck on his arm during practice ahead of the warm up match against New Zealand. Fortunately for him and team India, his scans revealed there was no fracture. (

REPORT )

Virat Kohli's India is likely to sport 'away jersey' with orange being the dominant colour for its games against England and Afghanistan during the World Cup. ( REPORT )

Pakistan announced its 15-man squad for the World Cup with Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali making a return to the team. ( REPORT )

As the players gear up for the showpiece event starting May 30 in the UK, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will keep a close eye on all the participating nations and the match officials to ensure there is no foul play. ( READ )

Harmanpreet Kaur has revealed she was contemplating taking a break from cricket after the controversy surrounding the decision to drop Mithali Raj from the World T20 semifinal. ( READ )

On a day Team India landed in England to begin its World Cup campaign, Ajinkya Rahane scored 119 off 197 balls against Nottinghamshire. ( READ )

FOOTBALL

Valencia has won the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2007-08 after beating Barcelona 2-1 to increase the heat on Ernesto Valverde. ( READ )

Bayern Munich secured a domestic double for the first time since the 2015-16 season as it beat RB Leipzig 3-0 in the DFB-Pokal final. ( READ )

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has extended his contract until June 2021 despite an underwhelming end to his first season with the Ligue 1 champion. ( READ )

Former Italy and Juventus coach Marcello Lippi will take charge of China for a second time. ( READ )

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be played with 32 teams after a proposed expansion of the tournament to 48 sides was scrapped, FIFA announced on Wednesday. ( READ )

Sethu FC turned around a first half deficit to beat Manipur Police SC 3-1 and win its first ever Indian Women’s League (IWL) trophy in the process. ( READ )

Borussia Dortmund has signed Thorgan Hazard from Bundesliga rival Borussia Monchengladbach, handing the Belgian a contract until 2024. ( READ )

Xavi Hernandez's dazzling career came to an anti-climactic end when his side Al Sadd was beaten 2-0 by Iranian giants Persepolis in its last group match of the AFC Champions League. ( READ )

TENNIS

India's top-ranked men's tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran's French Open campaign ended in the first round as he went down to Hugo Dellien on Sunday. ( REPORT )

Playing at the French Open for the first time in four years, Roger Federer came through his opening clash with Lorenzo Sonego with ease. ( REPORT )

Firebrand Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of Roland Garros on Friday, just days after saying the French Open “sucks”. ( REPORT )

Yulia Putintseva came from behind to beat Tamara Zidansek and claim her first WTA Tour title at the Nuremberg Cup. ( REPORT )

MOTORSPORT

Lewis Hamilton displayed tremendous tyre management to triumph at the Monaco Grand Prix, but Mercedes' one-two streak ended due to pit-lane contact between Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen. ( REPORT )

F1 legend Niki Lauda – who won world titles in 1975, 1977 and 1984 – died "peacefully" on Monday, his family confirmed. ( REPORT )

ATHLETICS

Gomathi Marimuthu, who won the 800 metres gold at the Asian Championships last month, was Tuesday handed a provisional suspension after being tested positive for a banned substance. ( READ )

Women athletes sponsored by Nike will not suffer pay losses due to non-performance during their period of pregnancy, the sportswear corporation has said. ( READ )

Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya will race the 3,000 meters at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic on June 30, a distance she can contest without reducing her testosterone levels. ( READ )

Sprint queen Hima Das, popular as the Dhing Express, secured first division in the Arts or Humanities stream of the Class 12 exams conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council. ( READ )

BOXING

IOC recommended that AIBA be stripped of its right to organise the boxing event at Tokyo 2020, but said the sport should still feature at the Games. ( REPORT )

Indian Open: Sarita Devi beat Simranjit Kaur for the women's 60kg gold medal, while Mary Kom and Amit Panghal got the better of Vanlal Duati and Sachin Siwach respectively. ( READ )

HOCKEY

Indian women’s hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne Sunday said victory in the just-concluded series in South Korea is vital to its preparations for the forthcoming FIH Women’s Series Finals. ( READ )

BADMINTON

Shi Yuqi stunned world champion Kento Momota as host China whitewashed Japan for an 11th Sudirman Cup title on Sunday. ( REPORT )

BASKETBALL

Toronto Raptors will play its maiden NBA Finals after getting the better of Milwaukee Bucks. ( READ )