The day in sports: 20th March

1. Sri Lanka officials worried over players’ safety in IPL:

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials on Wednesday raised concerns over the safety of its national players who are to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 tournament next month following the recent spate of attacks against Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu. (File Photo)

2. Heat win streak hits 24 in LeBron homecoming:

Defending champion Miami’s epic win streak, the second-longest in league history, rose to 24 games but survived a scare from NBA weakling Cleveland in a homecoming for LeBron James. The Heat rallied to defeat Cleveland 98-95 thanks to a stunning effort from James, who scored 25 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, made 10 assists and hit two key-free throws.

3. Beckham open to playing on next season:

During a press conference, after being unveiled as an ambassador for the Chinese Super League (CSL), football superstar David Beckham refused to rule out playing beyond the end of this season, when his current contract with French side Paris Saint-Germain ends.

4. Tiger tries to dethrone No. 1 McIlroy:

Tiger Woods of the United States plays during the pro-am for the 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill Golf and Country Club on March 20, 2013 in Orlando, Florida. Woods, who can overtake Rory McIlroy for World No. 1 by defending his title this week at Bay Hill, says he and ski star Lindsey Vonn went public as a couple to combat “stalker-azzi.”

5. No Rafa, no Roger, no problem for Novak in Miami:

Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks to the media at the Sony Open at at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 20, 2013 in Key Biscayne, Florida. Djokovic is looking to bounce back at the ATP Miami Masters after his 22-match win streak was ended last week at Indian Wells and the absence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is no problem.

6. Injured Pietersen out of final NZ Test:

England batsman Kevin Pietersen plays a shot on day two of the second Test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 15, 2013. Pietersen will miss the final Test against New Zealand because of a knee injury and will fly home for an specialist examination, English cricket authorities said Wednesday.

7. West Indies vs Zimbabwe: 2nd Test, Day 1 – Gabriel shines as Zimbabwe struggle:

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel took two wickets as Zimbabwe reached 92 for three at lunch on the opening day of the second and final test against the West Indies at Windsor Park here on Wednesday.

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