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SATURDAY 1 MAY 2021 Title in sight butbu Guardiola focused only on Palace LetL me try to win at Crystal Palace... United is an extraor- ddinary team arriving in the last two months in their best form ofo the season and we need five points to be champions. All we ccan do now is recover as well as possible from the physically aand mentally tough game we played in Paris. ManchesterM City manager Sport | 15 PPep Guardiola IPL: : 179/5 (KL Rahul 91*, C Gayle 46, K Jamieson 2/32); Royal Challengers 145/8 (V Kohli 35, H Brar 3/19) Sport Football legends look forward to unites for social historic FIFA Arab Cup in media A view of THE PENINSULA – colossal first round match boycott FIFA Arab Cup between Egypt and Algeria – 2021 draw REUTERS – LONDON Football legends from across the two African champions that ceremony on took part in the draw have a tremendous history with Tuesday. for the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 at each other – I also look forward A British football-instigated Katara Opera House earlier this to seeing play boycott of the world’s biggest week. The tournament, set to Morocco. The more we see social media platforms by take place in Qatar later this intercontinental match-ups, the professional athletes, sports year, will see 23 teams from the better sense we will get of who teams, governing bodies and region vie for the highly antici- really deserves to lay claim to broadcasters got underway on pated title in what will be the the title of best team in the Arab Friday in response to continued final major tournament to take world,” said Gomaa, a former online racist abuse against a place in Qatar ahead of the FIFA Egyptian full-back and three- number of Black athletes. World Cup 2022. time winner of the African Cup The boycott, announced by Teams were drawn into four of Nations. England’s football authorities a groups, with the top nine nations “For fans, the Arab Cup will week ago and swiftly bolstered according to the FIFA World also kick off a year-long cele- by a number of other sports Rankings qualifying automati- bration in the build-up to Qatar bodies, is aimed at pressurising cally, and the remaining seven 2022. Seeing their teams in social media giants to take more joining after a series of one-off action against all forms of abuse qualification matches. on their platforms, and runs For Younis Mahmoud and from 1500 BST (1400 GMT) yes- Wael Gomaa, who are both terday to 2359 BST on Monday. Qatar Legacy Ambassadors and Manchester United said earlier considered legendary players on Friday its own analysis had from and Egypt respec- found that since September tively, the tournament promises 2019, there had been a 350% to deliver some classic match- increase in abuse directed ups that are sure to excite fans towards its players. across the Arab world. “By taking part in this “I was excited to see Qatar boycott this weekend, we, and Iraq drawn in the same alongside the rest of English group because the two teams football, want to shine a light have built a very nice rivalry that on the issue,” United’s group has seen results go both ways,” managing director Richard said Mahmoud, who led Iraq to Arnold said. Britain’s football AFC Asian Cup glory in 2007. clubs were joined by European He continued: “Both are Qatar Legacy soccer’s governing body UEFA, former Asian champions with Ambassador, British Cycling, the Rugby relatively young squads and Iraqi legend Football Union (RFU), the they will both be keen to show Younis Mahmoud England and Wales off their skills to a global picks Iraq during Board (ECB), and Formula One audience ahead of the first the FIFA Arab world champion Lewis Ham- World Cup in the region. Going Cup Draw Egyptian ilton among others, plus media through to the next round for legend companies including Sky each of the teams will not be Wael Gomaa Sports and BT Sport. easy, but doing so will mean Announcing it was joining facing some of the region’s best the boycott this week, BT Sport teams, mainly those from action in World Cup stadiums Legacy Ambassador, knows the world’s best players at World many of them will have in the said the “horrific cycle of online North Africa who boast players will be a treat, particularly for importance of big tournaments Cup stadiums will be the oppor- stands, will surely mean that we abuse had to end”. from Europe’s top leagues.” those smaller nations that might like the Arab Cup for younger tunity of a lifetime,” said Khalil, see an upset or two,” Khalil The International Tennis Gomaa believes the tour- not qualify for the World Cup players, especially those from a former goalkeeper who turned added. Federation (ITF) was one of the nament will finally confirm the next year,” added Gomaa. lesser known teams. out for side Set to take place at six Qatar bodies to join yesterday. best Arab football nation – a As a former Qatari player “For the smaller teams from Al Arabi SC. 2022 stadiums, the tournament “The level of abuse indi- debate regularly aired in coffee who was part of the famous side the region, this tournament will “I know how much this tour- will be the final major milestone viduals are forced to endure is shops and social media forums that made it to the quarter- be their big chance to show off nament will mean for those prior to the country’s hosting of completely unacceptable, across the region. finals of the 1992 Olympics in their footballing merit to the rest teams, and the passion that they the World Cup, which will be which is why we are... calling “Although most fans will Barcelona, Ahmed Khalil, who of the world. Having the oppor- will bring on to the field. Their held from 21 November to 18 on social media companies to rightfully look forward to the is also a Qatar tunity to play against the Arab skill, along with the support December 2022. act now to protect individuals who are merely doing their jobs,” ITF president David Hag- gerty said. FIVB World Tour: In response to the boycott, said that since the Cancun Hub 3rd Event English soccer season started in September it had removed Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan 7,000 of the 30 million Tweets in action against Poland’s Piotr Kantor and in the UK about soccer. Bartosz Losiak during the Third Cancun “Racist behaviour, abuse Hub event of the FIVB World Tour, in and harassment have abso- Cancún, Mexico, yesterday. The Polish lutely no place on our service duo defeated Cherif and Tijan 2-0 (21- and alongside our partners in 23, 20-22) to take the lead in Pool C. The football, we condemn racism Qataris who beat Italy’s Tiziano Andreatta in all its forms,” a Twitter and Andrea Abbiati 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) in spokesperson said. their first match on Thursday, will take Britain’s seven-times on Mexicans Miguel Sarabia Delgado and Formula One world champion Raymond Stephens Zamora in today’s Hamilton has switched off his Main Draw - Round 1 match. social media channels in a show of support. Hamilton back on top as Mercedes set pace in Portuguese GP practice

REUTERS – PORTIMÃO, PORTUGAL The start of the afternoon practice soft tyres and was third in the second “What a joke, mate. I can’t even Ferrari to Aston Martin, stopped at the was delayed by 10 minutes as mar- session. see where I’m going, there’s so wrong garage when he came into the Mercedes set the pace in Portuguese shals fixed a loose drain cover. Hamilton, only fifth in that much vibration,” he said over the pits during first practice. Grand Prix practice yesterday with Bottas, his car rebuilt after a big opening hour, lapped in 1:19.837 in the radio. “Sorry for that. It had to happen Valtteri Bottas quickest in the morning collision with Williams driver George afternoon. “I’ll just visit the dentist after the at some point,” chuckled the German before seven times world champion Russell at Imola on April 18, clocked The Briton leads Verstappen by a weekend.” Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was over the radio. “I was wondering why Lewis Hamilton led the way in the a best time of one minute 19.648 single point going into a weekend at third and 0.198 off the pace after nobody was there.” afternoon. seconds on a track where last October he won spending the early part of the opening Ferrari-backed Briton Callum Ilott Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, from pole and set the fastest lap. session in the garage. He was 10th in took Antonio Giovinazzi’s place at Alfa Hamilton’s closest rival in the Verstappen was 0.025 slower than the later stint. Romeo for his practice debut after Formula One championship Bottas and 0.143 behind George Russell, who collided with being appointed as their second after two races, was second Hamilton. The Dutch Bottas at Imola, was seventh fastest reserve earlier in the week. He was in both sessions at the youngster complained for Williams in another eye-catching 17th fastest, with team mate Kimi Algarve circuit. in the morning that the morning performance by the Raikkonen 15th. car was “impossible to youngster. The Algarve circuit is hosting drive” due to tyre Four times world champion Formula One for the second time this vibrations. Sebastian Vettel, who has moved from weekend. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during practice yesterday. Sport SATURDAY 1 MAY 2021 15 India says Punjab prevent UAE is Plan Fawad bags another Bangalore B for T20 topping IPL in World Cup ton as 34-run win REUTERS – NEW DELHI extend lead AP – This year’s Royal Challengers Bangalore World Cup could be moved REUTERS – HAHARE SCOREBOARD missed a chance to return to the to the top of the Zimbabwe 1st innings 176 (R. Kia 48; Shaheen Shah Afridi if the COVID-19 crisis does Fawad Alam completed a fourth 4-43, Hasan Ali 4-53) when they were blown away by not subside in India, the Test century as he guided Pakistan Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 103-0) Punjab Kings by 34 runs yesterday. country’s cricket board to 374 for six and a commanding Imran Butt c Chakabva b Ngarava ...... 91 Bangalore, chasing 180 to win, said. lead of 198 runs at the close of play c Taylor b Chisoro...... 60 started slowly in the face of tight Six months before the on the second day of the first Test Azhar Ali c Musakanda b Tiripano ...... 36 bowling. But its legs were cut out showpiece’s scheduled against Zimbabwe at the Harare Babar Azam c Kaia b Tiripano ...... 0 from under by left-arm spinner start, India reported a Sports Club yesterday. Fawad Alam ...... 108 , who bowled Virat record 386,452 new cases The tourists are replying to their Mohammad Rizwan b Muzarabani ...... 45 Kohli and in suc- yesterday, though medical host’s modest first-innings score of c Chisoro b Tiripano...... 0 cessive balls and dismissed AB de experts believe actual 176 with unorthodox middle-order Hasan Ali not out ...... 21 Villiers, all in the span of seven numbers may be five to 10 batsman Fawad, who takes a bizarre Extras: (b1, lb3, nb8, w1) ...... 13 deliveries. times greater. The gov- front-on stance at the crease, TOTAL (overs 120, for six wkts) ...... 374 Bangalore were 69-4, and out erning International leading the way with an unbeaten Still to bat: Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi for good when took Cricket Council (ICC) said 108 that has come from 155 balls Fall of : 1-115, 2-176, 3-182, 4-226, 5-333, 6-334 two wickets in two balls to reduce this month it was sticking on a slow . Bowling: Muzarabani 24-8-42-1, Ngarava 23-4-83-1 (nb3), it to 96-7 in the 16th over. The to hosting the event in He has now reached a hundred on Chisora 34-7-89-1, Tiripano 23-6-89-3 (1w, nb5), Shumba 9-3- high-fliers finished on 145-8 in India but had back-up all four occasions that he has passed 50 29-0, Kaia 7-0-38-0 reply to Punjab’s 179-5, which lifted plans, without specifying in and will resume on the that side to fifth place. an alternative location. Fawad Alam third morning with all-rounder Hasan weighed in with a half-century but it “It would be the UAE,” celebrates Ali (21 not out), who can be explosive at was a day to forget for in-form Brief scores: Board of Control for after scoring the crease and score quick runs. Babar Azam as he was out first ball. Punjab Kings 179/5 in 20 Cricket in India (BCCI) a century Opener Imran Butt fell nine runs Babar pushed a from overs (KL Rahul 91 not out, C general manager Dhiraj against short of a first test century following a seamer Donald Tiripano (3-89) straight Gayle 46, K Jamieson 2/32, D Sams Malhotra told the BBC on Zimbabwe patient 91 from 236 balls as he became to a short mid-on for a major break- 1/24) Thursday. “...We’ll take the in Harare, a first scalp in the longer format for deb- through from the home side, but they tournament there, but it’ll yesterday. utant seamer Richard Ngarava, having could not capitalise on the fall of two Royal Challengers Bangalore still be done by the BCCI,” Pic: Twitter/ edged to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva. quick wickets and are now facing a big 145/8 in 20 overs (V Kohli 35, H added Malhotra, also the @TheRealPCB Fellow opener Abid Ali (60) also first-innings deficit. Patel 31, R Patidar 31, H Brar 3/19, tournament director. R Bishnoi 2/17). He did not respond to Reuters calls and messages to elaborate, but an ICC spokesman confirmed the Dickwella further frustrates in Pallekele plan. The governing body is monitoring the progress AP – PALLEKELE him. The 27-year-old Dickwella decision and reached his 18th with (140). SCOREBOARD of the Indian Premier was particularly harsh on the half-century in just 48 balls. Fernando was dismissed Sri Lanka first innings (overnight 291-1) League, which is con- Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan spinners. He swept the first ball Together with rookie when wicketkeeper D. Karunaratne c Liton b Islam ...... 118 tinuing in the midst of the Dickwella hit a run-a-ball 64 not he faced — from Ramesh Mendis, Dickwella moved across and completed the L. Thirimanne c Liton b Taskin ...... 140 epidemic. “It is too early to out in the second test to help Sri — to the square leg boundary added 87 runs so far for the catch after the ball hit the pad O. Fernando c Liton b Hasan ...... 81 make a call,” the Lanka reach 469-6 at stumps on and continued to relish playing seventh wicket as Sri Lanka and deflected off the back of A. Mathews c Liton b Taskin ...... 5 spokesman told Reuters. the second day against Bang- sweep and slog-sweep shots edged closer to the 500 mark. Fernando’s bat. His 81 came off D. de Silva c Shanto b Islam ...... 2 The pandemic forced ladesh yesterday. along with some elegant drives. Dickwella is chasing his first 221 balls with eight P. Nissanka b Taskin ...... 30 N. Dickwella not out...... 64 the Indian board to stage Sri Lanka had lost two Dickwella’s adventures con- test hundred, having been dis- boundaries. R. Mendis not out ...... 22 last year’s IPL in the UAE. wickets in successive overs with tinued against pace as well as he missed twice this year in the 90s. Sri Lanka are in the best Extras (b3, lb2, w1, nb1) ...... 7 The BCCI last year its first-innings score on 382 but frequently played the ramp shot Mendis, who was dropped on 12 position with the wicket offering Total (6 wickets, 155.5 overs) ...... 469 signed a hosting agreement Dickwella’s knock wrestled back to the vacant third man at second slip, was 22 not out as much more turn and bounce for Fall of wickets: 1-209 (Karunaratne), 2-313 with the Emirates Cricket the initiative. boundary, much to the frus- play was called off early due to the spinners than the drawn first (Thirimanne), 3-319 (Mathews), 4-328 (de Silva), Board (ECB). The ECB Dickwella, an aggressive left- tration of the opposition. bad light. Test. 5-382 (Nissanka), 6-382 (Fernando) declined to comment on its handed batter, displayed uncon- Soon after tea, Dickwella Oshada Fernando steadied Only 65.5 overs were pos- To bat: S. Lakmal, V. Fernando, P. Jayawickrama preparedness when con- ventional strokes and Bangladesh was given out leg before wicket the Sri Lankan innings in the sible yesterday and 98 overs are Bowling: 22-4-69-0 (1w,1n), Taskin tacted by Reuters. captain was to when on 32 but morning session, adding 104 scheduled to be bowled today to Ahmed 32.5-7-119-3, Mehidy Hasan 34-7-102-1, Shoriful Islam 29-6-91-1, Taijul Islam 38-7-83-1 running out of ideas to contain he successfully reviewed the runs for the second wicket catch up for lost time. Title in sight but Guardiola focused only on Palace

REUTERS – MANCHESTER Manchester United tomorrow, reporters yesterday. “All we can playing a number of games team and thehe players,”players,” Guar-Guar- but the Spaniard was not yet do now is recover as well as without a recognised striker diola said. Manchester City could wrap up ready to draw comparisons possible from the physically with Gabriel Jesus often “In all my career I plplayay witwithh the Premier League title this with his previous title wins. and mentally tough game we benched and Sergio Aguero a lot of mdifieldield players. weekend but manager Pep “Let me try to win at Crystal played in Paris. It is our sixth injured. Guardiola said he liked I don’t knoww whwhyy butbut Guardiola is in no hurry to Palace... United is an extraor- game in a row away. It is a lot playing midfielders in attack as I have the ffeelingeeling break out the champagne as he dinary team arriving in the last of travel and we are tired in the best way to defend is to that you cann playplay expects a tough battle at Crystal two months in their best form many aspects. keep the ball in difficult better withh this Palace today. of the season and we need five “It is Crystal Palace, a Roy circumstances. (approach)...... It Guardiola (pictured) will points to be champions,” Guar- Hodgson team. Every time we “I have to admit that I like happened wwithith win his third league title with diola, whose side beat Paris St have faced them we had a lot players with the ability to keep Barcelona,na, the club if City beat Palace and Germain 2-1 in the Champions of problems to win the game.” the ball, it’s one of the biggest Bayern Munichunich Liverpool beat second-placed League in midweek, told City have dominated the league principles I look for from the and here as wellwell.”.”

Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani shoots at goal during the Europa League semi-final first leg match City, Inter on verge of league titles Mbappe against AS Roma at Old Trafford on Thursday. AP – LONDON Champions League semifinal. PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino may choose sidelined A look at what’s happening around to rest some key players ahead of the European soccer today: return leg next week. Lens is vying ENGLAND with Marseille and Rennes in a tight with calf Manchester City could clinch a race for fifth place, a Europa League third Premier League title in four spot. The northern side beat PSG 1-0 injury seasons this weekend if Pep Guardi- at home this season. ola’s side beats Crystal Palace on Sat- ITALY urday and then second-placed Man- Inter Milan has a second shot at chester United loses to fallen winning Serie A this weekend. It needs REUTERS – PARIS champion Liverpool the next day. Like to beat last-placed Crotone and hope City, which hosts Paris Saint-Germain Atalanta fails to beat Sassuolo on Paris St Germain forward on Tuesday leading 2-1, Chelsea is pre- Sunday to clinch a first league title Kylian Mbappe will not play in paring for a Champions League semi- since 2010. AC Milan needs a win at today's Ligue 1 game against final. With the first leg against Real home to relegation-threatened Ben- Lens due to a calf injury, the Madrid drawn 1-1, Chelsea manager evento to boost its chances of quali- French club said yesterday, Thomas Tuchel could make changes fying for the Champions League. Ben- raising doubts over his avail- for Saturday’s game against Fulham. evento is in the bottom three but level ability for their Champions But there is fourth place and certain on points with the two teams imme- League semi-final against Champions League qualification to diately above it. Manchester City. lock down, with only a three-point GERMANY PSG trail City 2-1 after the advantage on West Ham. Fulham is Borussia Dortmund faces second- first leg in Paris and Mauricio seven points from safety with five division side Holstein Kiel for a place Pochettino’s side will travel to Fernandes and Cavani strike games remaining. Fulham is trying to in the German Cup final against Manchester for Tuesday’s catch Brighton, which is a place above Leipzig or Werder Bremen in Berlin second leg. the drop zone as it travels to ninth- on May 13. Usually, the final is the sea- Mbappe, 22, had twice as United hit Roma for six placed Leeds. Everton, which is eighth son’s crowning showpiece, but the recovered from a thigh injury going into the game against Aston pandemic means it will be played in to play in the first leg and REUTERS – MANCHESTER after being set up by half and struggled without Villa, is chasing Europa League an empty stadium once again - on a played the full 90 minutes on Cavani but Roma can- fresh legs after the break. qualification Thursday, before the league has even Wednesday. Bruno Fernandes and celled that opener out six Cavani scored in the FRANCE finished. For Dortmund it’s the only The Frenchman is PSG’s Edinson Cavani scored two minutes later with a 48th minute to get United In table-topping matches, remaining chance of a title. Edin top scorer this season with 25 each as Manchester United Lorenzo Pellegrini penalty back on level terms and defending champion Paris Saint- Terzić’s team is fighting for Champions goals in the league and eight took a giant step towards after a handball by Paul the Uruguayan striker Germain faces Lens at home and League qualification but the cup can in Europe, which included a the Europa League final Pogba. struck again before a Fern- leader Lille hosts mid-table Nice. Lille provide a welcome distraction. hat-trick against Barcelona at with a 6-2 drubbing of AS Former Manchester andes penalty, Pogba lead by only one point over PSG with Dortmund last won the cup in 2017. the Camp Nou. Roma in their semi-final City forward Edin Dzeko header and Mason three rounds to go after this weekend. Kiel won’t be a pushover, however. PSG are second in the first leg at Old Trafford on put the Italian side ahead Greenwood goal com- PSG will be without 25-goal league top Ole Werner’s team knocked out Ligue 1 standings, one point Thursday. but Roma were forced into pleted an impressive turn- scorer Kylian Mbappe. He hurt his right defending champion Bayern Munich behind Lille with four games Fernandes put United making three injury sub- around for the Premier calf in a 2-1 midweek home loss to and is a candidate for Bundesliga left in the season. ahead in the ninth minute stitutions in the opening League side. Manchester City in the first leg of their promotion.