Caribbean Sports Roundup

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Nov. 22, 2019: Here are the top headlines making news on the Caribbean sports scene this week.

St. Vincent And The Grenadines Roots NFL Star In Action This Sunday

N’Keal Harry, the St. Vincent And The Grenadines-roots, New England Patriots star who made his NFL debut last Sunday, will be in action again this Sunday at home against the Cowboys. The rookie last week finished with three receptions on four targets for 18 yards against the Eagles.

Speaking on a conference call Tuesday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels seemed pleased with Harry’s debut, but also noted there are things he can improve on.

“It was good to get him out there and into the game,” he said. “I thought he was ready to play. He had a good week of practice last week. In any rookie’s first opportunity to play in the National Football League, there’s probably going to be some good and then some things to work on that you learn from those experiences in the game.

“At the same time, there’s definitely things we’ve been able to see through the film (that) we’ll improve on and he’ll work towards being better as we go forward. …. And there’s definitely some things we can work on going forward to make N’Keal a better player and help our offense even more.”

No West Indies Bowler, All-Rounder Makes ICC T20I Ranking

No West Indies bowler or all-rounder is among the Top 10 ICC rankings of T20I bowlers or T20I all-rounders, the latest report shows.

At the top of the leaderboard of T20I bowlers is Afghanistan captain and bowler Rashid Khan while Afghanistan bowler Mujeeb ur Rahman is at number 2.

In the number three spot is New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner while Pakistan’s Imad Wasim is at No.4. Australia’s Adam Zampa is at No.5; South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo at No.6; England’s Adil Rashid at No.7; Pakistan’s Shadab Khan at No.8; Australia’s Ashton Agar at No.9 and England’s Chris Jordan at No.10.

Among all-rounders, the leader is Mohammed Nabi of Afghanistan.

The West Indies Evin Lewis is the lone batsman on the Top 10 T20I batting ranks, coming in at number 7.  Pakistan’s Babar Azam lead that ranks.

The news comes after Afghanistan made a good comeback to their series against the West Indies played in India by bagging the T20I series. Having lost the first match by 30 runs after getting annihilated in the ODI series 0-3, Rashid Khan’s team won the last two T20Is to win the series 2-1.

West Indies Vs. India

The Windies men will face India’s cricket squad this December. The West Indies tour of India 2019 opens at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Friday, Dec. 6th with the first of three T20 International matches. The two sides will also play three One Day Internationals – on Dec. 15th, 18th and 22nd.

Countdown On To Tiger Wood’s Bahamas’ Hero World Challenge

The countdown is on to Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this December. Eighteen top golfers are set to play in the tourney at the Royal Melbourne on Dec. 4-7th.

Among them are Woods of course along with Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed, Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and Kevin Kisner.

Soccer Action Ahead To 2020

The focus is already being put on the Concacaf U-20 Championship and the 2021 World Cup in Indonesia.

The US has been drawn into Group E alongside Costa Rica, Jamaica and St. Kitts & Nevis, and the top three teams will advance to a single-elimination knockout tournament.

Canada will be joined by Mexico, El Salvador and Aruba in Group F. Altogether, 12 teams from Groups E through H will advance to that phase, as will four group-stage winners from another tournament that features 17 participating countries ranked from 17-41.

At the knockout phase, there will be Round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches. The four semi-finalists will advance to the World Cup, relying on a competition format that mirrors the U-17 Concacaf Championship. The group stage will take place next June, with the knockout phase immediately following.

Image of Jamaican Olympian Up For Photograph of the Year Award

An image of Jamaican Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce crossing the finish line in the Gulf state has been shortlisted among three for Photograph of the Year award by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The photo, which was taken by Felix Sanchez Arrazola, a frequent contributor to Runner’s World Spain since 2005, shows a triumphant Fraser-Pryce with fists clenched crossing the finish line in the 100m final. According to the IAAF, Sanchez regularly contributes to Spanish newspapers Marca, AS, El Mundo among many others. He won the World Athletics photo award last year.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, November 23rd, Fraser-Pryce will also get to know if she will be crowned the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) 2019 Female World Athlete of the Year. She has made a shortlist of five top nominees.

Roger Celemente’s Wife Dead At 78

Vera Clemente, the widow of late Pirates outfielder, Puerto Rican-born Roberto Clemente, has died at age 78.

Vera Clemente was hospitalized and in delicate health, the Pirates announced Nov. 1. She served as the chairwoman of the Roberto Clemente Foundation. She also traveled on behalf of MLB as a Goodwill Ambassador.

Vera and Roberto Clemente were married Nov. 14, 1963. Roberto Clemente went on to play 18 seasons in the majors and was selected to 15 All-Star games as part of a Hall of Fame career.

He became known worldwide for his charity work in Latin America and Caribbean countries in the offseason. On Dec. 31, 1972, he died in a plane crash while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. His wife continued to be a Goodwill Ambassador in his name. She is survived by three sons: Roberto Clemente Jr., Luis Clemente and Roberto Enrique.