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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Sodhi back at Arsenal guns down a lacklustre Manchester United Royals, with The win offers hope for a brighter future under new manager Arteta; Jesus’ brace gives Manchester City a 2­1 victory over Everton twin roles PREMIER LEAGUE Coast winger beat David de sea, after the latest in a long IPL Gea from close­range. list of underwhelming per­ Agence France-Presse Arsenal, which last won in formances in a troubled Sports Bureau London the league at West Ham on campaign. JAIPUR Arsenal rang in the new year December 9, got a deserved Meanwhile, Manchester Ish Sodhi will have a dual by giving boss Mikel Arteta second goal in the 43rd mi­ City remained third, a point role with the Rajasthan his first victory as lacklustre nute when de Gea kept out behind Leicester, after its Royals this season. The 27­ Manchester United crashed Alexandre Lacazette’s flick home win against Everton. year­old leg­spinner from to a 2­0 defeat. and Sokratis reacted quick­ Gabriel Jesus scored twice New Zealand will work as a Arteta had watched Arse­ est to lash home. in the second half at the Eti­ spin consultant besides be­ nal take only one point from had before Richarlison ing an operations execu­ his first two matches, with Nine adrift pulled a goal back for Ever­ tive. It is a different kind of last weekend’s 2­1 defeat Arteta’s team is nine points ton but City held on despite homecoming for the Lud­ against Chelsea especially adrift of the top four, but its some nervy moments. hiana­born Sodhi, who painful after the Blues scored second win in 16 matches in played for the Royals the “This period is so tough. twice in the final minutes. all competitions offers hope last two seasons. When you are far away from But Arsenal had played of a brighter future under the “I am delighted to be the first position sometimes well for long periods in that former Arsenal midfielder’s taking on this new chal­ people give up, but we never London derby and it pro­ management. lenge at Rajasthan Royals give up,” City boss Pep Guar­ duced an even more spar­ “It feels great, incredible. with this dual role,” he diola said. kling display to put United to I’m so happy and proud of The results: said. “I have formed a great the sword at the Emirates the players,” Arteta said. level of understanding Stadium. “Physically the level Arsenal 2 (Pepe 8, Sokratis with all the people in­ 43) bt Manchester United 0; dropped in the second half Manchester City 2 (Jesus 51, 58) volved with the franchise, Close range but the commitment and de­ bt Everton 1 (Richarlison 71). and they have always been The Gunners took the lead in sire was terrific. The perfor­ Norwich 1 (Cantwell 4) drew very supportive of me. the eighth minute when Sead mances are getting better so I with Crystal Palace 1 (Wickham “I did not have to think Kolasinac’s cross ran was desperate for the win.” 85); West Ham 4 (Noble 17, 35­ twice when this opportuni­ through to Nicolas Pepe at United is fifth, five points pen, Haller 25, Anderson 66) bt ty was offered to me by the the far post and the Ivory behind fourth­placed Chel­ Bournemouth 0. Clinical: Nicolas Pepe’s early strike set the tone for Arsenal’s dominant display against Manchester United.* GETTY IMAGES Royals’ management. I love this franchise and want to help us win the IPL this year.” Paul Pogba’s new injury setback Sodhi, who played 17 Three football fans arrested Tests, 31 ODIs and 40 T20Is, said it was a fasci­ Ankle surgery can keep the midfielder out for a month nating opportunity to be for racist, homophobic abuse involved in a coaching role Agency France-Presse has been badly missed with at such a young age . “I am London United sitting fifth in the Pre­ looking forward to deve­ Associated Press wrongdoing at the tarnished by these people. Paul Pogba will undergo sur­ mier League. loping my coaching skills London stadium. gery on a recurring ankle in­ His latest setback comes alongside Sairaj and learn­ “I find it impossible to A Brighton fan was “If the prospect of a life jury and is expected to at a bad time for Solskjaer ing from Jake on business comprehend how and arrested for racially ban from watching their spend another month on the with Scott McTominay also operations,” he said. why some individuals abusing Chelsea players clubs play football isn’t a sidelines, Manchester Unit­ sidelined for two months think it’s acceptable to during a Premier League strong enough deterrent, ed manager Ole Gunnar leaving the Norwegian ex­ behave in this way.” match, and two other we have to ask the Solskjaer confirmed after his tremely short on midfield soccer fans were arrested question as to whether the During a second side’s 2­0 defeat to Arsenal options. “It’s a big blow that in separate incidents courts should be given the division game on New on Wednesday. Paul is out now that Scott’s during the same game for power to hand out more Year’s Day, an The French World Cup out, he’ll be out for a few hurling homophobic severe punishments?” announcement was made winner made his comeback months. Paul will be back abuse at rival supporters. Barber said in a statement in Huddersfield warning after nearly three months Down and out: Pogba’s influence in midfield has been badly within a month.” Brighton chief on Thursday. fans to stop offensive out in a 2­0 defeat at Watford missed with United sitting fifth in the Premier League. * AFP Solskjaer denied sugges­ executive Paul Barber “Football can only do behaviour after sectarian 10 days ago and also made an tions it is Pogba’s own medi­ called the abuse so much, and we are sick abuse was allegedly aimed appearance off the bench in nothing major, it’s someth­ Solskjaer. Pogba has made cal team rather than the “disgusting” and urged and tired of the game’s at Stoke player James a 4­1 thrashing of Newcastle ing that has to be sorted and just six starts in all competi­ club’s which has suggested supporters to report reputation being McClean. four days later. dealt with. He’s been ad­ tions for United this season to undergo surgery at this

“We’ve had scans and it’s vised to it as soon as,” said and his influence in midfield time. Ish Sodhi. * FILE PHOTO Sri Lankan team arrives for T20I series BCCI to set up medical panel at NCA Indian players expected to reach the city in batches on Friday The Academy has been criticised for the way it has handled injury­related issues

BCCI-NCA a position which has been ly­ their recovery rather than ing vacant for a long time, relying on the NCA staff. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA will also be filled soon. NEW DELHI That person will be in Primary centre The National Cricket Acade­ charge of setting up a fast Going forward, Ganguly has my (NCA), which has often bowling programme at the already made it clear that the been criticised for its han­ NCA. NCA will be the primary dling of players’ injuries, is The board will also hire a centre for cricket develop­ set to get the help of a BCCI nutrition head for the Benga­ ment programmes in the medical panel and a dedicat­ luru­based facility. country and all India players ed social media department will have to go to Bengaluru as part of its revamp plan. Sourav Ganguly. Social media manager for rehabilitation. He ex­ The need for a medical pa­ * FILE PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE A social media manager will pects the new NCA facility to nel was discussed at NCA’s come on board to provide be ready in 18 months’ time. recent meeting which was at­ All­rounder Hardik Pan­ regular updates on the hap­ The other recruitment, tended by all BCCI office­ dya and premium pacer Jas­ penings inside the NCA. which will be done soon, is Here we come... The Sri Lankan team in Colombo before its departure to India.* COURTESY: SRI LANKA CRICKET bearers, including president prit Bumrah added to the The move could also go a the head of data analytics. Sourav Ganguly and NCA NCA’s woes by choosing per­ long way in repairing its rep­ The NCA will also be con­ SL IN INDIA the evening,” an official of been sold out. Africa in Perth on October cricket head Rahul Dravid. sonal rehabilitation over re­ utation, admitted the Board ducting Level 2 and Level 3 the Assam Cricket Associa­ “We are expecting a last 24. The development comes covering in Bengaluru. official. coaching courses at its pre­ Press Trust of India tion (ACA) said. minute ticket rush now,” he Former skipper Angelo after the criticism the NCA “The BCCI will consult a The NCA had failed to de­ mises with the State associa­ Guwahati “The situation is absolute­ said. Mathews and Dhananjaya de drew for the injury manage­ London­based clinic, Forti­ tect Bhuvneshwar’s sports tions paying the bill for their The Sri Lankan cricket team, ly normal now and tourism The second T20I will be Silva have been recalled to ment of some leading India us, for setting up its medical hernia and was also criti­ respective coaches. led by veteran pacer Lasith is back in the state. We are played in Indore on Jan. 7 the 16­member Sri Lankan players, including Wriddhi­ panel,” said a top BCCI cised when it came to light “Coach development con­ Malinga, arrived here on hosting Khelo India Games while Pune will host the final squad. Mathews last played a man Saha and more recently official. that Bumrah and Hardik sultants” will also be hired Thursday for the three­ from January 10 and about match of the series on Jan. T20I against South Africa in Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The head of fast bowling, were taking outside help for on a need basis. match T20I series against In­ 7000 will participate,” ACA 10. August 2018. dia amid tight security. The secretary Devajit Saikia said. The short series will mark For India, the series will team headed straight to the “It’s now safe as any other the T20 World Cup count­ mark the return of pace hotel. place in the country. The down for the two neighbour­ spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Kiwis look to salvage pride in final Test The members of the In­ state government is looking ing countries. who has recovered from a dian team are expected to ar­ after the security arrange­ lower back surgery, while rive in batches on Friday for ment and there’s no issue at Busy schedule opener Shikhar Dhawan will With bushfires raging, smoke haze could come into play the series opener on Sunday. all.” India will play eight T20Is, also make a comeback. “Both the teams have op­ About 27,000 tickets of including five in New Zea­ Opener Rohit Sharma and NZ IN AUSTRALIA provements and put Austra­ tional training sessions, Sri the 39,500­capacity Barasa­ land, ahead of its T20 World pacer Mohammed Shami lia under pressure for lon­ Lanka followed by India in pra Stadium have already Cup opener against South have been rested. ger,” he said. Agence France-Presse “When you are under Sydney pressure for the periods Aus­ Smoke haze could come into tralia have put us under, play as New Zealand looks to then you have to question Kohli-led India can win all ICC tournaments: Lara salvage some pride from its what we’re doing. miserable tour of Australia in “Australia have three bow­ the third and final Test lers at 145 kph and a spinner Press Trust of India semifinal and final,” he I think what Virat which begins on Friday. (Nathan Lyon) who’s taken NEW DELHI <> added. Kohli and company With bushfires raging over 300 Test wickets so Batting legend Brian Lara Under Kohli’s and the Indian across New South Wales you’re always up against it. state, day two of the match believes the Indian cricket leadership, India has team has to You don’t get a reprieve and team, under Virat Kohli, is reached great heights in on Saturday shapes up as the that’s the hard thing for us.” appreciate the fact capable of winning all ICC both Tests and ODIs but biggest challenge with tem­ that everybody sort tournaments it competes has failed to win an ICC peratures forecast to soar Only bright spot in. tournament, fizzling out in of target India and smoggy conditions The bright spot from Mel­ “I think they are crucial games. expected. bourne was makeshift open­ definitely capable of The Men in Blue last at No.4 for Australia. He is The issue of smoke is a dif­ er Tom Blundell’s gritty se­ winning all tournaments won an ICC event in 2013 a great player but he ficult one for officials, who cond innings century and he that they play. I think what when Mahendra Singh doesn’t dominate. You currently rely on a mix of air is set to retain the role along­ Virat Kohli and company Dhoni­led side lifted the know a player like David quality guidelines from the side Tom Latham. and the Indian team has to ICC Champions Trophy. Warner for sure,” Lara International Cricket Coun­ Lone warrior: Tom Blundell, coming in as makeshift opener, But there is doubt over appreciate the fact that said. cil, State governments and played a gritty knock for New Zealand in Melbourne. * AP skipper Kane Williamson, everybody sort of target Breaking the 400 score “A player like Virat the Australian Institute of who has had a poor tour. He India,” Lara was quoted as Lara feels Kohli, David Kohli, who gets in early Sport. lop better protocols around Black Caps were “beaten up missed training on Wednes­ saying by India Today. Warner and Rohit Sharma and gets set. He is a very visibility and air quality. by Australia again” in their day with flu­like symptoms, “Everybody knows that have the potential to break attacking player. Rohit Inconsistencies With the first two Tests at 247­run Melbourne thrash­ with batsman Henry Nicholls some point of time one his record Test score of Sharma on his day. So they But there are inconsistencies Perth and Melbourne ending ing and they have had to go suffering similar problems. team is going to play that 400. have got quite a group of on what is considered “un­ in heavy defeats inside four back to the drawing board. Jeet Raval is the only spe­ important match against “It would be difficult for players who can do so,” he Lara is bullish on Kohli’s safe”, with Cricket Australia days, New Zealand will need “We’ve got to find some cialist batsman waiting in the India. If it’s a quarterfinal, Steve Smith to do it batting added. India. * VIVEK BENDRE and the players’ association all the help it can get. Coach areas where we can keep wings, but he has been out of currently working to deve­ Gary Stead admitted the chipping away, make im­ form. CM A ND-NDE YK