REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE 2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. ET

We will also include the top five storylines going into the season, a list of past NBA champions, league MVPs and a Factbox on the season ahead. 18 Dec SPORTS SPORT-YEARENDER/ICEHOCKEY-NHL (PIX) NHL-Lightning crowned champions, Lundqvist era ends, Kraken released The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a long-awaited Stanley Cup in 2020, Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist's stellar career with the New York Rangers ended and the NHL officially welcomed the Seattle Kraken amid a season unlike any before due to COVID-19.

Britain's Jamie Chadwick will seek to defend her crown when the all-female W Series returns for a second season next year as a support act to Formula One, organisers said on Thursday.

CRICKET-PAKISTAN/AMIR Pakistan's Amir retires from internationals claiming 'mental torture'

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 28 on Thursday, claiming he could no longer play in an atmosphere where he did not feel welcome in the national team. UPCOMING

SOCCER SOCCER-FIFA/AWARDS (PIX) (TV)

Soccer - The Best FIFA Football Awards The 2020 Best FIFA Football Awards will be held as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

17 Dec 12:00 ET / 17:00 GMT SOCCER-ENGLAND-AVA-BUR/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Aston Villa v Burnley Aston Villa v Burnley at Villa Park

17 Dec 13:00 ET / 18:00 GMT SOCCER-ITALY-ROM-TOR/REPORT

Soccer - Italy - Serie A - AS Roma v Torino AS Roma host Torino in a Serie A match

17 Dec 14:45 ET / 19:45 GMT SOCCER-ENGLAND-SHU-MUN/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Sheffield United v Manchester United Sheffield United play Manchester United at Brammall Lane in the Premier League.

17 Dec 15:00 ET / 20:00 GMT SOCCER-ENGLAND-EVE-ARS/PREVIEW

Soccer - England - Premier League - Arsenal news conference Arsenal's Mikel Arteta speaks to the media ahead of his team's Premier League match against Everton.

18 Dec 07:00 ET / 12:00 GMT SOCCER-ENGLAND-TOT-LEI/PREVIEW (TV)

Soccer - England - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur news conference Tottenham Hotspur's Jose Mourinho speaks to the media ahead of his side's Premier League match against Leicester City.

18 Dec 08:00 ET / 13:00 GMT SOCCER-ENGLAND-CHE-WHU/PREVIEW

Soccer - England - Premier League - Chelsea news conference Chelsea's Frank Lampard holds a news conference ahead of his side's Premier League match against West Ham United.

18 Dec 08:00 ET / 13:00 GMT FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL-NFL-OAK-LAC/ (PIX) Football - NFL - Las Vegas Raiders v Los Angeles Chargers

2020-2021 NFL Season (Regular Season) - Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada 18 Dec 20:20 ET / 01:20 GMT

CRICKET CRICKET-TEST-AUS-IND/

Cricket - First Test - Australia v India Day two of the first of four tests between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval (Day-Night).

18 Dec 22:30 ET / 03:30 GMT BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL-NBA/ NBA-LeBron's re-tooled Lakers set to begin repeat bid We look ahead to the 2020-21 NBA season with an eight-part package including an overall preview, items on LeBron James, international players and a look at the financial challenges of playing during a pandemic. We will also include the top five storylines going into the season, a list of past NBA champions, league MVPs and a Factbox on the season ahead.

18 Dec SPORTS

SPORT-YEARENDER/ICEHOCKEY-NHL (PIX) NHL-Lightning crowned champions, Lundqvist era ends, Kraken released

The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a long-awaited Stanley Cup in 2020, Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist's stellar career with the New York Rangers ended and the NHL officially welcomed the Seattle Kraken amid a season unlike any before due to COVID-19. 18 Dec

SPORT-YEARENDER/RUGBY (PIX) Rugby-Concussion case casts dark cloud over the sport

The rugby year ended with the sport excitedly looking ahead to the next World Cup while simultaneously bracing for a potentially seismic challenge to the very fabric of the game in the form of a class action legal case citing negligence over concussion. 18 Dec