SPORT Wednesday 1 August 2018 PAGE | 17 PAGE | 18 Bale can fill the void More pressure left by Ronaldo, on England’s lone says Lopetegui spinner Rashid Al Rayyan eye aggressive approach against Al Duhail in season opener

ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA football giants vie for Sheikh Jassim Cup glory

DOHA: New Al Rayyan coach We will try and forcerce Rodolfo Arruabarrena is planning an aggressive tactical Al Duhail to play thehe assault when his team takes on way we want themm to football giants Al Duhail in the play: Al Rayyan’s newnew Sheikh Jassim Cup final at Al Sadd Stadium today. coach Arruabarrenana In today’s title clash, Arrua- barrena wants his team to take coaching staff and I have a slislightght the ‘upper hand and dominate advantage over Al Rayyan coaccoachh proceedings from the kick off’ because I coached a Qatariri club,club, and push Al Duhail on the El Jaish, a few seasons backck anandd SHEIKHS JASSIM CUP defensive. I know the QSL clubs veryvery RECENT FINALS: “We try and force Al Duhail well,” he said. to play the way we want them Maaloul, who coachedhed (Year/Champions/Score/Runner(Yea up) to play,” Arruabarrena said yes- at the FIFA Worldorld terday on the eve of the final. Cup in Russia, said his team’sm’s 2002 : Al Khor SC 1-0 Qatar SC The Argentinian has done performance in the Sheikhikh 2003 : Al Shabab 2-1 Al Wakrah SC his home work on his oppo- Jassim Cup final will set tthehe 2004 : Al Wakrah SC 1-1 Qatar SC (3-1 pen) nents and is ready for the chal- tone for the rest of thehe 200520 : Al Gharafa SC 2-1 Al Ahli SC lenge in the season opener. season. 202006 : Al Sadd SC 2-0 Al Rayyan SC “As I was coaching for the “We know that thishis 202007 : Al Gharafa SC 4-2 Al Sailiya SC last two years in the Middle season opening match will East, I know most of the clubs helps us in our preparationon as 22008 : Al Arabi SC 3-0 Al Rayyan SC and players from the region. I we aim to retain the QSL title,” 2009 : SC 2-0 Al Khor SC know Al Duhail have a new Maaloul said yesterday. Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul (left) and Al Rayyan coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena speak during a press 2010 : Al Arabi SC 1-0 Lekhwiya SC coach this season and they had The Tunisian tactician said conference held at the Al Sadd Stadium yesterday. Pictures: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula 2011 : Al Arabi SC 3-2 Umm Salal excellent results last season,” he aims to carry forward the 2012 : Al Rayyan SC 1-0 Al Sadd said the Al Rayyan coach. coaching legacy of Djamel Al Duhail coach Nabil Bemladi, the outgoing coach of 2013 : Al Rayyan SC 2-0 Al Kharaitiyat Maaloul, who is in his second Al Duhail. Ambitious Al Rayyan seek 2014 : Al Sadd SC 3-2 Lekhwiya SC sting as coach of a QNB Stars “I will try to complete the 2015 : Lekhwiya SC 4 - 2 Al Sadd SC League (QSL) club, said his team journey of the previous coaching 2016 : Lekhwiya SC 2 - 0 Al Rayyan SC enjoys an advantage over his staff, which was very successful positive results on the pitch 2017 : Al Sadd SC 4 - 2 Al Duhail opponents. and helped Al Duhail to win “Both teams have new three championships last ARMSTRONG VAS season,” added Maaloul. the last few years and it has Al Duhail skipper Last season, Al Duhail won THE PENINSULA become a 24-hour job. Lucas Mendez the QSL title and went on to “A coach needs to be a win the and Amir DOHA: Al Rayyan coach multi-tasking one. You need to I have a slight Cup. Rodolfo Arruabarrena yesterday watch out for the videos of your advantage over Al Al Duhail has also qualified said the players have been opponents and accordingly Rayyan coach because for the quarter-finals of the apprised of the club’s targets in analyze the opponents game to 2018 AFC Champions League the new season and one of them your team players,” Arrua- I coached a Qatari and will take on Iranian outfit is playing committed football barrena said. club, El Jaish, a few Perspolis on August 28 and Sep- on the pitch. “You also need to keep a tab seasons back and I tember 18 in the two-leg Arruabarrena said the pos- on what is happening with the know the QSL clubs encounters. itive results will certainly make rival teams. You need to know very well: Maaloul Today’s game starts at an impression on the minds of how the teams in your group are 7:00pm. the club fans. performing, so the coaching job “We have set our goals for is now a 24-hour job,” added the season. We have told our Arruabarrena, who spent most Mendez wants Al Duhail SHEIKH JASSIM CUP players what are our objectives of his playing career with Boca Al Duhail vs Al Rayyan and what we are expecting from Juniors. them,” Arruabarrena said He also played for Spain’s to continue dominant run Venue: Al Sadd Stadium yesterday. Villarreal, AEK Athens and CHINTHANA WASALA “We do not want to say we Tigreand Universidad Católic “We are taking on a strong Time: 7.00pm want to win the title, it is easy Arruabarrena, who took THE PENINSULA outfit and we know the strength to say that. We want our per- over from Danish great Michael of Al Rayyan. We also know formance on the football field Laudrup, said it is a fact that his DOHA: Qatar’s football giants Al their special performance and to do the talking for us. We have line-up has just two profes- Duhail will be hoping to get their the abilities of their key players. a winning group and I have trust sional players but said officials hands on the Sheikh Jassim Cup However, we would not be sat- in my players and have confi- of the club have spread the net when they take on Al Rayyan at isfied by anything other than the dence that they will deliver,” he wide enough to get more pro- the Al Sadd Stadium today. Sheikh Jassim Cup title this time added. fessional players to complete Al Duhail lost to Al Sadd in because we lost the same title He informed that during the the quota. last year’s encounter but later last season,” Mendez, who has 15-day pre-season training “Club officials are looking went on to clinch a trophy treble been competing in Qatar since period the team focused on the to bring in more professional to dominate the football scene 2014, added. tactical and fitness aspects. players, hopefully in the coming in Qatar. Al Duhail, under their new “We had a very short period weeks we will be able to fill the Brazilian defender Lucas Tunisian coach, Nabil Maaloul, to train but we had a fruitful spots,” Arruabarrena said. Mendez, while addressing a pre- will be hoping to fire on all cyl- training. We have been able to Al Rayyan player Abdul match press conference at the Al inders against the Abdulrahman explain the tactics to the players Rahman Al Karbi said that the Sadd Stadium yesterday, said Al Karbi-led Al Rayyan at the air- and what the coach wants and club did not win any title but Duhail are looking forward to conditioned state-of-the-art what the coach in turn expects came close to wining the Amir asserting early dominance but venue this evening. from them (players),” Arrua- Cup. are also aware of the threat that Winners of the Qatar League barrena said. “We lost in the final of the Al Rayyan could pose. title six times in the last few The Argentinian tactician, Amir Cup and did well in the “Our ambition is big. The years, Al Duhail are also going who spent the last two seasons QNB stars League finishing team has to continue the special great guns in the AFC Cham- coaching clubs in the UAE, said among the top four, while in the appearance this season and pions League, having reached some of the injured players are AFC Champions league, we had work hard to retain the titles we the knock-out stage unbeaten. expected to return to training mixed results,” Al Karbi said. won during the last season,” “Now we are in a new which will help to strike the “It has been a difficult Mendez, 28, said. season and we want to prove right balance ahead of the QNB period for the players and the “Our confrontation against Al our abilities. Wining the Sheikh Team officials display Al Duhail (left) and Al Rayyan jerseys during Star League (QSL). spectators, hopefully we have Rayyan will be a real test before Jassim Cup will be the perfect a press conference held in Doha ahead of the season-opening The former Boca Juniors a great season ahead,” he added. the beginning of the QNB Stars start,” the Red Knights’ captain Sheikh Jassim Cup match which kicks off at the Al Sadd Stadium trainer said the job profile of a The regular football season League (QSL),” Mendez added. said. at 7.00pm today. football coach has changed over starts on August 4. WEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2018 SPORT 17 Klopp optimistic of Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo to Mane’s long-term skip MLS All-Star Game stay at Liverpool AP REUTERS According to MLS rules, Ibra- himovic will also have to sit out ATLANTA: The Major League LA’s next match on Saturday LONDON: Liverpool Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game will against Colorado, one of the manager Juergen Klopp feature one of the world’s most league’s worst teams. (pictured) is hopeful that the storied clubs. New York City forward David optimism surrounding the Unfortunately for the more Villa also will skip the All-Star club will lead to key players, than 70,000 fans expected at Mer- Game after missing six matches including playmaker Sadio cedes-Benz Stadium, Cristiano with a knee injury. Ibrahimovic Mane, committing their long- Ronaldo is not along for the ride. and Villa were replaced on the term futures to the Premier After Portugal’s elimination MLS roster by Minnesota forward League side. from the World Cup and his Darwin Quintero and New York The Merseyside outfit transfer from Real Madrid, the Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams. impressed under Klopp last five-time FIFA Player of the Year Atlanta shattered the MLS season with the attacking took time off rather than attendance record in its debut trio of Mohamed Salah, accompany Juventus on its season, averaging 48,200 per Roberto Firmino and Mane American preseason tour, which game, and is on pace to break that spurring the team on to a together have to deliver. includes tonight’s game against top mark this year at nearly 52,000 fourth-placed league finish Sign your contracts but Zlatan players from Major League Soccer. per game. The club already has the and the Champions League now, go again.” Ibrahimovic The decision will surely be a five biggest stand-alone crowds final. The German boss disappointment to the big crowd in MLS history - each more than The club’s progress has believes Liverpool’s four that had hoped Ronaldo would he’s skipping the All-Star match The Galaxy (10-7-5) are 70,000 at Mercedes-Benz led to top players, new signings in the current make his unofficial debut while ratherer than make a crosscross-country country unbeaten in nine games and have Stadium. including Salah and transfer window are suffi- touring the United States with the trip to Atlanta. The 36-year-old climbedclimbed to third place in the TheThe league expects anotheranother Firmino, signing new long- cient and said the club will Italian club that has won seven Swedeede cited the gringrindd of plaplayingying Western Conference.Conference. rrecordecord crowdcrowd for its AllAll-Star-Star term contracts earlier this not need to replace straight Serie A championships. threeee matches in an eight-day Game,Game, breaking the markmark year and Klopp is opti- attacking midfielder Juventus acquired the 33-year- span,n, incincludingluding SunSundayday nignight’sht’s 4-3 of 70,728 in Houston forfor mistic that Mane will Philippe Coutinho, who old from Real Madrid on July 10 in victoryory over Orlando CitCityy in which thethe 22010010 mmatchatch in whiwhichch follow suit. moved to Barcelona in a deal his new club said was worth he scoredcored hishis fifirstrst MLS hat trick.trick. ManchesterManchester UnitedUnited “When I speak about January. €112m ($131.5m) - the largest for IbrahimovicIbrahimovic ranksranks secondsecond in defeateddefeated the MLSMLS the good mood in the club, “We don’t need to a player older than 30. MLSS with 15 goalgoals.s. HHee plplayedayed with squad 5-2. An extraextra that is not only in the replace Phil. We need to Also sitting out the US tour, Juventusentus from 2004-06. 1,500 tickets havehave stands. We are Liverpool make a squad for the next which includes three other exhi- “I“I am disappointed to miss the been put on salsalee as a team and the boys year.” bitions, is Argentine striker 20188 All-StarAll-Star gamegame againstagainst to meetmeet the want to be part of it,” Klopp “Out there on the Gonzalo Higuain. He is coming off Juventus,entus, one ofof demand.demand. told British media. market, there isn’t a Phil a scoreless World Cup in which he my formerformer “That’s really cool and Coutinho-light. It’s not didn’t start in the round of 16 loss clubs,”u bs,” it’s a big achievement for there. But there are a lot of to eventual champion France. Ibrahimovichimovic the club because these good players and we have Most players take three weeks saidd in a boys, Bobby Firmino, Mo brought a few of them in,” off after the World Cup. Juventus statement.ement. “I Salah and Sadio Mane, and Klopp added. opens its Serie A schedule at wantnt to thanthankk a lot of the others as well, Liverpool will play Chievo Verona the weekend of the fansfans for voting could play for pretty much friendlies against Italian Aug. 18-20. me toto the team. My any team in the world. teams Napoli and Torino One of MLS’ top new stars, LA mainn focusfocus isis to scoscorere “... It is an improved before hosting West Ham Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahi- goalsls and help the LA Cristiano situation that these players United in the opening movic, announced on Monday that Galaxyaxy to the playoffs.” Ronaldo don’t use us and then go. league fixture on August It’s cool but now we all 12. Bayern will Bale can fill the void left by not sell striker Ronaldo, says Lopetegui Lewandowski REUTERS REUTERS Real Madrid’s new manager MUNICH: Robert Lewand- MADRID: Real Madrid’s Julen Lopetegui owski wants to leave Bayern Gareth Bale has the qualities Munich but the Bundesliga to fill the void left by his champions will not sell the fellow forward Cristiano prolific striker in the current Ronaldo’s move to Juventus, transfer window, manager the Spanish side’s new Niko Kovac has said. manager Julen Lopetegui Poland international Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said. Lewandowski has been Bay- Bale struggled to hold ern’s top scorer in three of the on to his place in the last four seasons since joining starting XI under previous the club in 2014 and has Man United hopeful of manager Zinedine Zidane reached the 40-goal mark in and said after his match- each of the last three winning display in last sea- campaigns. making one more son’s Champions League His exploits have helped final against Liverpool that the club extend their domestic he craved regular first team leave and we allowed him linked by Spanish media dominance, winning four recruitment: Mourinho action. to. Gareth Bale is a magnif- with a move away from the German league titles in as Speaking ahead of his icent player, with so many club, to stay and show his many years but local media team’s pre-season qualities. He can help fill the talent. reports say Lewandowski, REUTERS depleted through injuries and key encounter against Man- void,” Lopetegui said. “I don’t walk to talk whose contract at Bayern runs players resting after the World Cup chester United in Miami Ronaldo joined Italian about hypothetical situa- until 2021, has been eager to LONDON: Manchester United in Russia. Their sole pre-season win yesterday, Lopetegui said champions Juventus on a tions,” Lopetegui said, dis- find newer pastures. manager Jose Mourinho says he is came against AC Milan last week. the 29-year-old Welsh- four-year contract for missing reports of Bale’s “There is nothing new confident that the club will sign at The club’s inconsistent per- man’s immediate future was €100m ($117.37m) earlier possible return to the with Robert. The status is that least one more player before the formances has led Mourinho to with the Spanish giants. this month, signalling the Premier League with United he will not leave the club Premier League’s transfer window express his frustration on multiplee “Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo iiss eendnd ofof nine years in MaMadrid.drid. andand hhisis fformerormer team Tot- because he’s our top striker. closes on Aug. 9. occasions throughout the U.S. tour, one offth the mmainaini LopeteguiLtiLopetegui was kkeeneen ttoo tenhamtenham HHotspurotspur ppossibleoso And certainly we don’t want The Portuguese boss expressed including criticising individuall playplayersers in tthehe sstresstress that the PortPortuguese’suguese’s destinations.destinations. to give him away and won’t his hopes of signing two new players and United’s lack of transferr recent hhistoryistory ooff departuredeparture repre-repre- “If“If thisthis is tthehe squadsqqu I give him away,” Kovac told recruits after United’s 4-1 defeat by activity. Real MMadrid.adrid. HHee sentedsented a “f“fan-an- havehave at stastartrt ooff seasonn I’ll be Sky Sports. Liverpool in the pre-season Inter- Goalkeeper Lee Grant, eexpressedxpressed a tastictastic oppor-oppor- a happy man... he (Bale)(BBa is “It’s true that Robert is national Champions Cup last however, has dismissed the notionn desiredesire toto tunity”tunity” forfor withwith tthehe team. He’s hhappy thinking about playing some- weekend in the United States but that Mourinho is unhappy with thee Bale,B ale, and alignedaligned with ouourr ggoals. where else. Naturally, one now says one addition seems more squad. whowho hashas It is thethe start ooff an eexcitingxc thing is what he wants, the probable. “From what we’re getting fromm beenbeen path for us.” other is what we want. “I am confident I will get one, the inside it (the atmospheree RealReal bbeginegin ttheirheir sesseason “We are FC Bayern, we but I think two I am not going to get around the camp) has been nothingg withwith a UEFA SupSuperer Cup have a top striker. We cer- which is not a drama,” Mourinho but positive,” Grant told Sky Sports.. clash againstagainst Europa LeLLeague tainly will not let ourselves be told beIN SPORTS. “In every pre- “The messages we are getting fromm winners andand city rrivals persuaded from the outside, season it happens the same with the manager are positive ones andd Atletico Madrid on Aug.Au 15. that’s the way to do it. Robert every club which is the manager that is important for us goingg TheyThey ffaceace GetafeGetafe iinn their has a contract... he will cer- wants more. forward. oopeningpenini La tainly stay here as long as “It’s our nature, you always “His attitude and demeanourr LLigaiga matchm possible.” want more for your team but then around the place is great and thatt foufourr days Former Eintracht club decisions are different and is helpful for us especially when wee later.latte Frankfurt and normally you don’t get what you are under-manned and we aree manager Kovac also said that want which happened during all working our hardest.” he does not expect the transfer my career. United play Champions Leaguee situation to hinder Lewand- “So if I get one player until the holders Real Madrid and Germann owski in the upcoming end of the market, that’s fine.” champions Bayern Munich in theirr campaign. United have struggled to next two friendlies before hostingg Bayern start their league impress in pre-season with a Leicester City in the opening leaguee campaign against Hoffenheim Real Madrid star Gareth Bale patchy squad that has been fixture on Aug. 10. on Aug. 24. 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2018

ENGLAND VS INDIA Kohli’s India eager to cement No 1 THE TEST TEAMS LONDON: Teams and offi- cials for the first Test between England and India at status with series win in England Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting today (1000 GMT): England: Alastair Cook, AFP have the edge if conditions England’s Joe Root and India’s Keaton Jennings, Joe Root favour reverse-swing during Virat Kohli pose with the (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny LONDON: India may be the what will be England’s 1,000th series trophy at Edgbaston, Bairstow (wkt), Ben Stokes, world’s top-ranked Test side but Test match. Birmingham, Britain, yesterday. Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Sam they still face accusations they “They seem to have got a The first of five Test matches Curran, Stuart Broad, James are lions at home and lambs good variety of bowlers and between the two sides start Anderson abroad. strength in depth in their pace today. India (probable): Murali But a series win in England, bowling,” said England opener Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar where Virat Kohli’s men begin a Alastair Cook. Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), five-Test campaign at Edgbaston “In the last ten years I’ve Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh today, would go some way to played them, they haven’t had Karthik (wkt), Hardik Pandya, ridding India of that unwanted the option of playing five or six Ravichandran Ashwin, tag. different types of seamers,” Mohammed Shami, Umesh In the past five years, India added Cook, England’s all-time Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav have won just one of their six leading Test run-scorer, whose Umpires: Aleem Dar Test series outside of Asia, highest score of 294 was made (PAK), Chris Gaffaney (NZL) against a struggling West Indies. against India at Edgbaston in TV umpire: Marais Their overall Test record in 2011. Erasmus (RSA) Match referee: England is uninspiring -- six Meanwhile India captain Jeff Crowe (NZL) wins from 57 matches and three Kohli, one of the outstanding series victories -- 1971, 1986 and batsmen of his generation, will 2007. be desperate to prove he can But if the current prolonged score runs in England. Boxing Day hot weather in England con- He managed a meagre 134 in tinues, the upcoming series may five matches during his maiden well be played on dry and dusty Test series in England in 2014, Test back on pitches, more akin to the sur- which India lost 3-1 with one faces that are found in India, draw. NZ domestic rather than traditional green But Mohammad Azharuddin, English seamers. the India batting great, believes Also, while doubts persist everything is now in place for Pakistan in 2016 into hundreds because both are really quality way in after impressing during schedule about England’s ability to cope Kohli to have a successful series. -- a poor return for a player of batsmen,” said India’s Ajinkya the preceding one-day series. AP should either one of veteran “I think he will perform won- his ability. Rahane of his top-order White-ball form also led new-ball duo Stuart Broad and derfully well,” Azharuddin said Batting could hold the key to colleagues. England to recall Adil Rashid James Anderson get injured, in Delhi. the series and there are question “It just takes one good even though the leg-spinner has WELLINGTON: New Zealand India do at least have some pace- “He has led India in so many marks against both top-orders. innings to get into your rhythm.” not been playing red-ball cricket will play Sri Lanka in a Boxing bowling depth. Test matches, so I don’t think he England, following a 1-1 India would appear to have for Yorkshire this season and he Day Test match in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and will have any pressure now as drawn series with Pakistan, are the edge in spin bowling but off- could team up with off-spinner Christchurch in one of the Jasprit Bumrah may be unfit for far as leadership is sticking with Keaton Jennings in break bowler Ravichandran Moeen Ali. highlights of a heavy domestic the first Test but the likes of concerned.” the hope of at last finding a Ashwin has rarely performed as “He’s a very good bowler,” cricket schedule for the 2018- Mohammed Shami, Ishant England captain Joe Root, reliable opening partner for well outside of Asia as he has in said Rahane of Rashid. 2019 summer. Sharma and Umesh Yadav have who like Kohli is at his best when Cook, while India’s Shikhar the sub-continent. “Wrist-spinners, we all know But a projected day-night shown themselves to be capable leading from the front, comes Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara Left-armer Ravindra Jadeja they are wicket-takers -- and Test against Bangladesh - operators outside of Asia. into the series having converted have both been struggling for is an experienced campaigner right now, in England weather- which would have been the Anderson is a master of con- only three out of 23 fifties since runs. while left-arm wrist-spinner wise, it’s like playing in Mumbai second pink ball Test in New ventional swing, but India may his Test-best 254 against “We are not worried at all, Kuldeep Yadav has forced his or Chennai.” Zealand after last season’s pioneering match against England at Eden Park - is off the schedule after a change of heart by Bangladesh More pressure on lone spinner Rashid officials. India remain the headline AFP comments like a “spoilt brat”. act of a summer containing England’s Adil Rashid “Trashing a great England 40 days of international BIRMINGHAM: Adil Rashid during nets at Edgbaston, captain and superb batsman cricket, but will not play a faced further pressure ahead of Birmingham, Britain, does not go down well with the Test. Instead, they will meet his controversial recall to the yesterday. cricketing public,” insisted New Zealand in five one-day England Test side for their series Boycott, who went into a self- internationals and three opener against India at imposed exile from international Twenty20 matches. Edgbaston when it was cricket for three years at the Sri Lanka will play two announced yesterday he would height of his career in the mid Tests and three ODIs in be the lone specialist spinner in 1970s. December and January, their XI. “Let me tell Adil that before the India tour, and The England and Wales Vaughan will be remembered as Bangladesh will round out the Cricket Board confirmed that one of the greatest England cap- summer with three Tests and off-spinner Moeen Ali had been tains and an elegant, superb three one-dayers in February left out from a 13-man squad. batsman. In 10 years nobody will and March. That leaves Yorkshire leg- remember Adil’s Test match The decision to award the spinner Rashid as England’s sole performances.” Boxing Day Test to designated slow bowler, Meanwhile England con- Christchurch suggests New although his county colleague firmed Jos Buttler as Root’s vice- Zealand Cricket sees the Joe Root, the England captain, captain for the Test series. South Island town’s Hagley can supplement his top-order Buttler was only recalled to Oval as New Zealand’s batting with occasional the Test set-up by new national premier cricket venue, ahead off-spin. selector Ed Smith for the two- of Eden Park which hosted a England have also omitted match series against Pakistan World Cup semifinal in 2015 uncapped Essex seamer Jamie earlier this season. But having and is the sport’s traditional Porter. deputised for England white-ball home. Top-order batsman Dawid contract with Yorkshire for this Telegraph published yesterday, he will play for England in Test captain Eoin Morgan in limited- Eden Park will host only Malan remains in the XI, with all- season. accusing Rashid of being a “spoilt matches. Absurd? Yes.” overs internationals, he has now two Twenty20 matches this rounder Ben Stokes and Surrey Yorkshire and England brat”. Vaughan had previously been given a formal leadership summer, against Sri Lanka on left-arm quick Sam Curran pro- greats Geoffrey Boycott and “He should never have been labelled Rashid’s selection “ridic- position in the Test set-up as Jan. 11 and India on Feb. 8 as viding seam bowling support to Michael Vaughan are among handed a Test recall,” insisted ulous”, with Rashid responding well. New Zealand Cricket moves the veteran new-ball pairing of those who’ve slammed the Boycott. angrily by saying his former Anderson, England’s all-time gradually towards an alter- James Anderson and Stuart decision to call-up Rashid “In two years England have team-mate’s remarks were leading Test wicket-taker, had native cricket venue in Broad in the first of a five-Test without him having first played gone around in a circle. By “stupid”, while suggesting York- been assisting Root since the Auckland. The 60,000-seat series starting today. any red-ball County Champi- picking Rashid, they are selecting shire’s less than enthusiastic start of the last Ashes after Stokes stadium is in a residential area Rashid’s recall for his 11th onship cricket this term. the unselectable: a player who reaction had been was stood down from the vice- and subject to restrictions Test but first in England pro- Former opening batsman will not play four-day Champi- “disrespectful”. captaincy position following an around night-time events. voked a furious response given Boycott was scathing in his onship cricket for Yorkshire Boycott said Rashid had alleged late-night incident in Hagley Park and Welling- he signed a limited-overs only column for Britain’s Daily because his heart is not in it, but responded to Vaughan’s September. ton’s Basin Reserve will each hold two of the five Tests New Zealand will play at home this summer and Hamilton’s Seddon Park will host the SA milestone becomes a millstone for Steyn other. Bangladesh considered REUTERS recent tour of Sri Lanka, however, Steyn performing well for my country, taking comeback after 13 months on the side- playing a day-night Test at wants to get the record in the bag as wickets and winning cricket games. If I lines only to injure his heel when he Hamilton from Feb. 28 but MUMBAI: Dale Steyn admits overtaking quickly possible and move on with the can do that, those records, that fame and opened the bowling in the first test victory has now rejected the pro- Shaun Pollock to become South Africa’s rest of his career. all the other things you want with profes- over India at Newlands. posal, citing insufficient highest wicket-taker has become some- “Actually, it’s like a bit of a burden sional sport will come.” After another six months out, he preparation. thing of a millstone around his neck but now,” he said in an interview. Steyn’s 421 wickets have come in 88 returned for the two-Test series in Sri “We were hopeful we he is determined to prove he still has lot “I hope it just gets out of the way and Ttests at an average of 22.64 and he is Lanka needing three wickets to overtake would get it across the line more to offer than merely claiming a we can just carry on. Because there’s more regarded as one of the sport’s greatest fast Pollock. He picked two in the opening Test but ultimately Bangladesh 422nd Test victim. wickets in me than 421. I have got 500 bowlers for his ability to take wickets in but went wicketless in the second. thought they weren’t pre- The 35-year-old paceman has been plus on the horizon so I don’t know why all conditions. “I actually quite enjoyed Sri Lanka,” pared enough for it,” NZC closing on Pollock’s tally of 421 wickets we are so consumed on one number. His injury problems began in Steyn said at a GoPro promotional event. chief operating officer for a couple of years but, limited by injury “When I am bowling it’s like ‘you’re December 2015, and about a year later he “The interesting thing is that lot of Anthony Crummy said. “They to three Tests since November 2016, has gonna get there, you’re gonna get there’. broke his right shoulder and tore three people have been saying he’s injured, he’s haven’t played a day-night managed only to reach, not pass, the I know I am, but I’m not interested in major muscles during the first Test against struggling and everything like that. But I test, nor have they had a lot milestone. getting there,” he added. Australia in Perth. probably just got through the hardest test of preparation in their own Having proved his fitness on the “What I am interested in doing is In January this year, he made a of my career and I’m absolutely fine.” first class cricket.” WEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2018 SPORT 19 Al Shaqab Racing’s Watan wins at Qatar Goodwood Festival THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar recorded their first victory at the ongoing Qatar Goodwood Festival at Goodwood Racecourse yesterday with Al Shaqab Racing’s colt Watan winning the fifth race in an impressive fashion. Watched by the President of Qatar Olympic Committee, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Watan, the chestnut colt won the six-furlong race reserved for two-year-old maidens. The winning horse was schooled by Richard Hannon and was steered by Ryan Moore to victory yesterday. The five-day Festival will see a wide range of races with the world’s top Arabian and Thor- oughbred horses. The trophy presentation cer- Watan winning The Nginious! Swiss Gin EBF Maiden Stakes during the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival at the Goodwood racecourse in the UK yesterday. emony was held after the race. RIGHT: Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) giving away the trophy to The Qatar Wintage Stakes (1) winners. Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Executive Director of Al President of Qatar Equestrian Goodwood Festival will con- Watan is one of the horses bred “Arguably we have started We will maintain Al Shaqab’s Shaqab, received the first place Federation, Nasser bin Sherida tinue today on the second day by Al Shaqab Racing. to reap the rewards of our policy of paying due attention trophy. Trainer Hannon and the Al Kaabi, General Manager of of the Festival with seven races “Watan’s win today at Qatar attention to breeding in Al to breeding because we want famed jockey Moore received Qatar Racing and Equestrian and the most important of which Goodwood Festival is very Shaqab and the performance Al Shaqab’s breeding to be their trophies as well. Club (QREC), Abdulla Rashid Al will be the Qatar International special”, said Al Attiyah, “espe- and form of Watan today are a prominent in this type of racing. Also present during the first Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, Stakes (Gr 1/PA). cially as he was bred by Al Shaqa demonstration of this. He We have been working to this day of the Festival, were the and numerous horse owners Al Attiyah, Executive as a son of Toronado, who himself excelled and won the race end and we have the oppor- Duke of Richmond, owner of and trainers from around the Director of Al Shaqab, was very won the Sussex several years ago. impressively. We will run tunity to realise better results Goodwood Racecourse, Hamad world. pleased with the Watan’s win as We consider this win very signif- Watan in tougher races in the and to enhance breeding in Al bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, The races of the Qatar it was a race for maidens and icant to us at this stage.” near future as he is up to that. Shaqab”, he added. Murray battles back to advance in Washington AFP on the final point. “I enjoyed positive change for tennis.” After point on a violation quickly getting through that one. You making his return from January called by French umpire Arnaud WASHINGTON: An emotional could see it in the celebration,” hip surgery last month at Queens Gabas. McDonald then hit a Andy Murray made a triumphant Murray said. and Eastbourne, Murray skipped forehand long to give Murray return to hardcourts Monday in “That was a tough match. It Wimbledon and began preparing another chance to serve for the his first match on the surface for could have gone either way. It for the hardcourt campaign. match. nearly 17 months, outlasting was nice to get it.” Murray had His lone win on grasscourts Murray, who surrendered Mackenzie McDonald at the ATP not played in a hardcourt match came over Swiss Stan Wawrinka, four double faults and won only Washington Open. since March 2017 at Indian another three-time Grand Slam five-of-15 second-serve points The three-time Grand Slam Wells, where he lost in his winner fighting back from a left in the first set, broke to open champion and former world opening match. knee injury. The world number the second set but swatted an number one, who missed 11 “I hadn’t played in darkness 198 had a first-round match ugly forehand well wide to sur- months with a right hip injury or under the lights in a really against US qualifier Donald render a break in the next and surgery last January, long time and I felt my rhythm Young rained out. game, slamming a ball to the defeated the 80th-ranked was off,” Murray said. Murray’s first hardcourt court in frustration at what in American 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. “I was struggling on my match in nearly 17 months, top form would have been a Murray, who has fallen to serve. I cut the unforced errors delayed three hours by rain, routine shot. 832nd in the rankings, needed a little bit in the second set and turned when he broke in the Both held serve until the seven match points to subdue started serving better.” Murray penultimate game of the second ninth game, when McDonald McDonald, squandering five booked a second-round match set and again on his fifth break sent a forehand wide to hand before being broken in the 10th Wednesday against British chance in the opening game of Murray the break and a 5-4 lead. game of the final set before fourth seed Kyle Edmund, who the third set. Murray held on a service winner breaking back and finally ending had an opening bye. Murray, whose best Wash- to force a third set. matters after two hours and 37 “I’ll have to play much better ington finish was a runner-up Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri booked minutes. if I want to win that match, more effort in his 2006 debut, served a second-round match against “I fought hard and I had to,” aggressively,” Murray said. for the match in the 10th game third-ranked defending Murray said. “It will help having one more but squandered five match champion Alexander Zverev of “The movements and stuff match under my belt.” It was points, four of them on errors, by defeating Russian were fine. I didn’t break down. Murray’s first experience with a and McDonald broke back to 5-5 Evgeny Donskoy 6-4, 6-1. It lasted pretty well.” The serve clock, which will be used when Murray netted a forehand US wild card Noah Rubin 31-year-old Scotsman unleashed at the US Open this year. to end the 12-minute game. beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny a primal scream and a right fist- “Without a shot clock, that At 30-30 in the 11th game, 6-4, 6-4 to reach a second- Andy Murray celebrates a shot against Mackenzie McDonald during pumping frenzy of joy after would have been a three-hour McDonald stuck his racquet over round match against US second the Citi Open at the Rock Creek Tennis Center in Washington , DC McDonald hit a forehand long match,” Murray said. “It’s a the net to play the ball, losing the seed John Isner. on Monday. Azarenka outlasts Bondarenko in San Jose REUTERS to edge the defensive-minded who committed eight double January at the Australian Open, Bondarenko, who sent a faults and was broken five times. downing current world number MIAMI: Former world number backhand long on match point Today’s action will see one Simona Halep in the final, one Victoria Azarenka outlasted to put an end to the marathon 23-times grand slam champion and the 2009 and 2014 US Open Kateryna Bondarenko 6-3 6-7(7) match. Elsewhere, Australian Serena Williams face off against runner-up approaches the hard- 7-5 at the Silicon Valley Classic Ajla Tomljanovic defeated Australian Johanna Konta in court campaign ahead of New on Monday to set up a highly- Spaniard Georgina Garcia Perez their first-round duel in San Jose. York with new confidence. anticipated second-round clash 6-4 6-1 to set up a second-round Andy Murray celebrates a “It feels great to have won with top-seeded Garbine meeting with second-seeded shot against Mackenzie my first Grand Slam. It was a Muguruza on Wednesday. American Madison Keys. McDonald during the Citi Open great two weeks,” Wozniacki Azarenka took the first set Nineteen-year-old Sofia at the Rock Creek Tennis Center said on Monday. “At this point, comfortably but faced stiffer Kenin defeated Paraguayan on July 30, 2018 in Washington, you have to keep on working Victoria Azarenka of resistance in the second from the Veronica Cepede Royg 6-4 6-4 DC. hard and try to be in the best Belarus returns a shot to Ukrainian, who battled hard and American Danielle Collins Meanwhile, hard work and shape possible heading into the Kateryna Bondarenko of against the 29-year-old Bela- fired three aces and won 76 peak fitness are the major con- US Open. That’s all you can do.” the Ukraine during Day 1 rusian on a night when her pow- percent of her first service points cerns for world number two Wozniacki was sharp as she of the Mubadala Silicon erful first serve lacked its usual to dispatch compatriot Danielle Caroline Wozniacki as she starts reached Melbourne, coming off Valley Classic at Spartan accuracy. Lao 7-6(2) 6-3. her first run to the US Open as a a title in the 2017 season-ending Tennis Complex in San Azarenka committed 12 Greek Maria Sakkari cruised Grand Slam champion. WTA Championship in Sin- Jose, California on Monday. double faults and was broken to a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win The 28-year-old Dane cap- gapore, beating Venus Williams four times but did just enough over American Christina McHale, tured her first major title in in the final.