People power has guaranteed the release of Hakeem al-Araibi

The Bahraini footballer has been freed from a Thai prison after his native country withdrew its extradition request for him to answer vandalism charges.

Several high-profile footballers have called for his release alongside the Australian government, football's governing body FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.



Heinrich Malan's trying not to get too ahead of himself as the door opens on a new career opportunity.

The current Central Districts coach steps down at the end of the domestic cricket season when he'll be without a job.

Now he's seen as a frontrunner for the New Zealand batting coach position, with Craig McMillan vacating the role at the end of the World Cup in July.



Pat Cummins has capped the finest year of his cricket career by winning the Allan Border Medal, awarded to Australia's leading men's player.

Alyssa Healy won the Belinda Clark Award as Australia's top women's cricketer.

Cape Town sandpaper scandal culprits Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were absent from the function.



Eden Park is gearing up for a demanding few days.

The stadium's Outer Oval will host the domestic Twenty20 elimination final between the Auckland and Central Districts on Friday, before the Wellington Phoenix face the Melbourne Victory in the main stadium in football's A-League.

24 hours later, the Blues and Crusaders will battle in their Super Rugby season opener.



Cardiff City have cancelled the club's trip to Tenerife for a mid-season break so players can mourn striker Emiliano Sala's death with their families.



Three people detained over an attack on Serbian water polo team players at a seaside cafe will face hate crime charges.

One player was forced to jump into the sea to avoid attackers wielding sticks and a knife, which left a leg wound.



Unemployed football manager Jose Mourinho is to get his own show on Russian state television channel RT.



The British Horseracing Authority will make a decision shortly on whether racing can resume this week after the recent outbreak of equine flu.



Phil Mickelson has won golf's Pebble Beach Pro Am after finishing the final two holes this morning.