SPORT Friday 12 October 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Intense battles Put your Dukes up!! expected in third Kohli comes out round of Qatar Baja swinging over ballss Season 2: Stakes are high as Hathab Series returns

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The hugely popular Hathab Series kicks off today with organisers allocating QR 100,000 for the winners in four classes of competition in the first round at QEF’s Indoor Arena. The 12-round show jumping and dressage series - an initiative of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) - will also have competitions for teams from this season. The QEF’s Indoor Arena will play This season’s battles will be host to opening round of Hathab worth a staggering QR1m, organ- Series Season 2 commencing isers have announced. today. The series - broadcast live on Al Kass Sports Channel - runs from October until April. The firmed by Ali Al Rumaihi, Tour- competitions in Small Tour, competition in the 120/130cm Qatar Equestrian Federation nament Director. Medium Tour and the Big Tour. class, will start at 5:30pm. Asian Para Games (QEF) and Al Shaqab have joined Hathab series is aimed at Al Rumaihi said young riders will Tomorrow, the competitions hands to launch the series and to improving the standard of horse also get to feel the sense compe- kick off at 9:00am with young A Qatari athlete in action during shot put event yesterday at Asian boost homegrown interest in riding among Qatari youth while tition when they compete in the riders going through their paces Para Games, under way in Jakarta, Indonesia. Qatar will conclude show jumping. encouraging the involvement of 70/85cm class. in the 70/85cm class. The all- Besides competitions for private stables and individual The Small Tour at 3:00pm important Big Tour will start at their campaign in the continental event today. Sarah Masood made individuals, team slots have been horse owners to spread today will kick off the new 5:30pm. The round against the Qatar proud by winning a silver medal in women’s shot put F33 reserved by Salam International, awareness of horsemanship as season with a round against the clock (130/145cm) offers a total 3,000 athletes from 43 countries are competing on Tuesday. Over ExxonMobil, Al Kass, Al Shaqab, part of Qatar’s history and tra- clock (100/115cm). The overall prize bag of QR 35,000. Riders in the Para Games. Qatar National Bank, Al Waseel dition, Al Rumaihi said. prize is worth QR 10,000. The above the age of 21 can feature and Power Steel, it was con- Every round will feature Medium Tour, a two-phased in this event. FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER 2018 SPORT 17

Sheikh Joaan attends Olympic Refugee Foundation Board Meeting in Buenos Aires

H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, poses for a group photo along with other officialsfollowing a meeting of Olympic Refugee Foundation Board in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr Thomas Bach, President of International Olympic Committee (centre), who chaired the meeting is also seen. The meeting was also attended by the board members of the foundation including Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner of UNHCR, Zaiqing Yu, IOC Vice-President, Dr Chungwon Choue, President of the World Taekwondo Federation and Yiech Pur Biel, member of the first Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The meeting discussed the sport for protection projects to be implemented in communities and camps affected by the refugee crisis across the world. Meanwhile, Sheikh Joaan also met with Neven Ilic Alvarez, President of the Pan American Sports Organisation on the sidelines of the Youth Olympic Games. The meeting reviewed the areas of cooperation between the two organisations and the means of developing them in the future. RIGHT: Sheikh Joaan holding a discussion during the meeting with the IOC President.

QSL Cup: Al Gharafa Federer battles past snatch Al Duhail draw as Al Kharaitiyat win Bautista in Shanghai THE PENINSULA QSL CUP RESULTS DOHA: Abdul Ghani Muneer Al Kharaitiyat bt Al Arabi 2-0 scored the last-gasp goal as Al

REUTERS Qatar SC draw with Umm Salal 0-0

Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates SHANGHAI MASTERS Gharafa snatched a 1-1 draw Al Duhail draw with Al Gharafa 1-1 after winning against Spain’s Roberto against Al Duhail in their Group SHANGHAI: Twice Shanghai Bautista Agut in Shanghai, yesterday. Third Round A match of QSL Cup at Suhaim Masters champion Roger Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Roberto Bautista Bin Hamad Stadium, yesterday. Federer was far from his best Agut (ESP) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 Al Gharafa’s repeated Arabi 2-0 at Grand Hamad against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Kei Nishikori (JPN x8) bt Sam Querrey (USA) attacks to level score yielded Stadium. Salmeen gave the Agut but did enough to reach the 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 result when Muneer struck from winners lead in the 37th which quarter-finals with a 6-3, 2-6, Borna Coric (CRO x13) bt Juan Martín Del a close range in 4th and last Lazar doubled 3 minutes later. 6-4 win yesterday. Potro (ARG x3) 7-5, retired minute of injury time to secure Al Arabi made several The top-seeded Swiss, who Matthew Ebden (AUS) bt Peter Gojowczyk a point for Al Gharafa, Earlier, attempts to avoid the defeat but is fighting to defend the title and (GER) 6-2, 6-3 Fahad Waad Al Bayati gave Al failed to score against the his world number two spot, Kyle Edmund (GBR x11) bt Nicolas Jarry (CHI) Duhail lead in the 17th minute. defiant Al Kharaitiyat defence. broke in the fourth game and 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 In another match, Valentin Another Group A at Suhaim sealed the opening set with a Marius Lazar and Majid Aman Bin Hamad Stadium saw Qatar Alexander Zverev (GER x4) bt Alex de Minaur crisp backhand volley. Salmeen scored a goal each as SC and Umm Salal sharing (AUS) 6-1, 6-4 But Bautista Agut, the 2016 Al Kharaitiyat SC blanked Al points after a goalless draw. finalist, was back on song in the Kevin Anderson (RSA x7) bt Stefanos Tsitsi- second set and won four straight pas (GRE x10) 6-4, 7-6 (7/1) games before forcing a decider Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Marco Cecchinato

courtesy a stunning backhand (ITA x16) 6-4, 6-0 return. Having lost a set for the first time in eight meetings with Bautista Agut, Federer cut down TIANJIN OPEN his errors before breaking in the ninth game en route to his 38th Second Round match win of the season. Katie Boulter (GBR) bt Barbora Krejcikova In the last four the 37-year- (CZE) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 old will face eighth-seeded Jap- Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) anese Kei Nishikori, who the French Open quarter-finals Djokovic in the quarter-finals 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 knocked out big-serving in June. after the South African overcame Elise Mertens (BEL x3) bt Jana Cepelova American Sam Querrey 7-6(7), “I was making him play Greek youngster Stefanos Tsit- (SVK) 6-2, 6-3 6-4. always an extra shot,” Djokovic sipas 6-4, 7-6(1). Caroline Garcia (FRA x2) bt Zhang Yuxuan

Wimbledon and US Open said. Fourth seed Alexander (CHN) 6-3, 6-4 champion Novak Djokovic “I was aggressive when I Zverev raced past Australian exacted revenge over Italian needed to be. The second set was number one Alex de Minaur 6-1, Marco Cecchinato with a 6-4, perfect, really. 6-4 to improve his match record Action during 6-0 victory. “I wanted to start off well to 48-15 for the season. consecutive year. The German QSL Cup match The 31-year-old Serb is now because I know that he battles With a dominant serve and will next face 11th-seeded Briton between Al unbeaten in 15 matches on the hard and he makes you deserve a mix of clever groundstrokes, Kyle Edmund, who produced a Kharaitiyat ATP tour and has won 28 of 30 every point, win every point.” Zverev moved just one match clinical performance to beat and Al Arabi, matches since losing to then Seventh-seeded Wimbledon win away from qualifying for the Nicolas Jarry of Chile 7-6(5), 6-3 yesterday. world number 72 Cecchinato in finalist Kevin Anderson awaits ATP Finals for a second in 90 minutes. Birdies in the air: Golf back in Pakistan after 11-year hitch AFP scheduled tournament, in 2008, felt like home, suggesting sport was cancelled after a wave of could pave the road for better KARACHI: Birds were released insurgent attacks. relations between Islamabad and over fairways and ceremonial “It is always good to be here Delhi. I came here 10 years drives were struck as interna- as people are very lovely and “I am really feeling home tional golf returned to Pakistan friendly,” said Australian golfer here and we are so overwhelm- ago. The perception yesterday after an 11-year Marcus Both. ingly welcomed here. We are is bad but in reality absence. “I came here 10 years ago. seeing the same faces not dif- it is very different: A full field of 132 players The perception is bad but in ferent to us,” Singh told from around the globe were reality it is very different.” reporters. Australian golfer teeing up in the Asian Tour’s The 2009 attack on Sri “Sports should bring the Marcus Both UMA CNS Open Championship Lanka’s bus in Lahore, in which invisible walls down between the at Karachi Golf Club, the latest eight people were killed, caused two countries,” he added. thawing of relations with the mil- all sporting visits to be India-Pakistan ties, including this week’s Asian Tour event, itancy-hit country that has spent suspended. sports and cultural contacts, which has a $300,000 prize years in the sporting But successful military oper- plummeted after deadly 2008 fund. “There is a very over- wilderness. ations in the country’s northwest attacks in Mumbai, which New whelming response by foreign “Coming back to Pakistan is near the Afghan border and Delhi blamed on Pakistani players and that surprised us,” a fantastic opportunity for us,” crackdowns in urban centres, militants. said Naval Commodore Mushtaq Robert Andrew, event director including the restive port city of Austria’s Christopher Baumgartner lines up a putt during the While cricket remains the Ahmed. of the Asian Tour said, brushing Karachi, have improved the Asian Tour’s UMA CNS Open Championship at Karachi Golf Club undisputed number one sport in Pakistan hosted its first Asian off any security concerns. situation. in Karachi, yesterday. Pakistan, golf is popular with the Tour event in 1989, which was “This is the starting point for The country has twice hosted country’s powerful army, with won by Filipino Frankie Minoza. future years after the success of the Pakistan Super League Zimbabwe, a World XI and Sri and now golf having returned. military areas where the top The country’s only Asian this event.” cricket finals featuring interna- Lanka in the past 18 months. Former Asian Tour winner brass reside frequently home to Tour winner remains Taimur No major golf tour has visited tional stars plus successful lim- They cleared the way for and Indian national Digvijay some of Pakistan’s best courses. Hussain who triumphed at an Pakistan since 2007. The last ited-over series against more sports with squash, tennis Singh said arriving in Pakistan Pakistan’s Navy are hosting event in Myanmar in 1998. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER 2018

Sports Intense battles expected in industry gears up for virtual third round of Qatar Baja reality THE PENINSULA fightback at last week’s Rally of Morocco. revolution DOHA: The third round of Qatar Al Attiyah, Qatar’s two-time AFP Baja will be held today and Dakar Rally champion, stayed tomorrow, the Qatar Motor and clear of problems through the Motorcycling Federation (QMMF) final stage to claim his fifth suc- LONDON: From training with announced yesterday. cessive victory in the gruelling Major League Baseball “We are looking forward to Rally of Morocco on Tuesday. pitchers to bone-jangling this week’s round. We are very A demanding six-day event racing on board an F1 car, excited at this point in time,” that ran with a new organising technology’s potential to QMMF President Abdulrahman team under the leadership of revolutionise sport was the Al Mannai said. former Dakar hot topic as industry leaders “We have organiser and nav- met in London this week. planned a series of igator David Castera “It’s going to disrupt all activities right featured 1,362 kilo- aspects of sport that you can throughout the metres of tricky Calendar imagine,” virtual reality season, like we navigation, dunes, expert Michael Ludden told always do. We shall rocky terrain, river Round 1: April 18-19 the two-day Leaders Sport give more details in bed crossings and Round 2: April 21-22 Business Summit at Chelsea’s the coming days,” everything that the Round 3: Oct 12-13 Stamford Bridge stadium. Al Mannai said. team needed to Round 4: Nov 30 Dec 1 Ludden said that virtual This week’s shake down its fleet Round 5: Dec 21-22 and augmented reality -- Qatar Baja will have of Toyota Hiluxes Round 6: Jan 18-19 together known as mixed 11 entries, it was before January’s reality (MR) -- would announced yes- Peruvian transform sport for profes- terday. The closing challenge. sionals, amateurs and date for entries was QMMF President The success in spectators. yesterday. Admin- Abdulrahman Al Mannai Morocco marked a “American footballers are istrative checks will hat-trick of wins for already using VR to better be carried out today Al Attiyah with the train their minds, read the besides the all-important scru- Toyota. Al Mannai said Adel despite the setbacks in field,” allowing quarterbacks tineering process. “The best news was the way Abdulla’s, Qatar’s big hope in T2 Morocco. He did not give up to hone their skills without The pre-event briefing will he fought hard in trying condi- class in this year’s championship, until the end. The great risking injury, he said. also take place today, Al Mannai tions,” Al Mannai said. “He’s had has been a revelation in 2018. achievement is that he “You can train with a real said. The ceremonial start will a tough time recently but we know Adel, driving a Nissan Patrol drove three different cars baseball bat that’s tracked in be held tomorrow at 8:00am he doesn’t give up,” he added. Y62 as part of the QX Rally Team this season. It is just unbe- virtual reality against real with the official start scheduled “His team and car have been with French navigator Jean- lievable,” Al Mannai said. pitchers using data from at 9:30am. The race results will working really well for him. I Michel Polato, finished the event “Hopefully he will come those pitchers... giving you be announced around 5:30pm. think he is getting good prepa- in third place behind the Russian back strong next season,” advanced analytics on how “It’s going to be a busy ration for the Manateq Qatar driver Andrey Titov. the QMMF chief said. the swing is,” added Ludden, season. Next month we will have International Rally and even- After the tough fight in Al Mannai said he will who has worked for IBM and the hugely popular Manateq tually the Dakar Rally next year. Morocco, the ace Qatari driver be attending the FIA and Google. Qatar International Rally. That “It will be challenging for had the consolation of finishing FIM General Assembly With the price of headsets will host the big names in motor him in Kuwait but he loves a as runner-up in this year’s T2 meetings in Russia in such as Facebook’s Oculus racing. We will special activities challenge. We know that. But World Championship after a December. Rift falling, MR also promises during that week,” QMMF Pres- Morocco was tricky all the way. campaign that was marred on “It will be a busy time to allow amateurs the expe- ident said. It was sandy dunes and I am glad more than one occasion by cruel for me and QMMF team. We will “I will be there to meet the rience of facing a 100 mph QMMF President praised to see his fightback. Splendid luck. be meeting the stakeholders in Asian FIM officials as well,” Al pitch from the safety of their Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah’s stuff,” Al Mannai said. “Adel had a great fight the world of motor racing. Mannai said. living room. While MR immerses the user aurally and visually, other developing technol- LGCT finals in November: Tickets go on sale ogies are beginning to rec- reate the physical reality of top-level sports, opening up THE PENINSULA a whole new world of spec- tator experience. DOHA: Qatar will host the Canadian company thrilling finals of the 2018 LGCT D-BOX Technologies, which show jumping series and tickets designs and manufactures for this prestigious event at Al moving seats found in Shaqab are on sale now. cinemas and theme parks, is From Nove 8 to 10, the spec- now moving into sports, tacular venue in Doha will see showing off their Formula the best athletes in the world pull One simulator at the London out all the stops to win their event. place in the prestigious LGCT The seats mimic the individual Rankings and teams G-Force and every judder as battle for the GCL title in a knife- F1 champion Lewis Hamilton edge climax to 2018. races around the Monaco The electrifying finale to the circuit. season is hosted at Al Shaqab, a The simulation seat uses world-class equestrian facility pre-programmed data but and part of the Qatar could use real-time infor- A couple of young riders wait for their turn at Al Shaqab Arena in Doha yesterday. Al Shaqab, one of the top equestrian venues around Foundation. mation sent by the car, the world, will welcome the best riders for the final round of the Longines Global Champions Tour next month. The circuit has consistently allowing spectators to pick seen the highest calibre show their driver and experience jumping in spectacular destina- riders for children at the major international equestrian watch 2017 LGCT Grand Prix of rider Bassem Hassan their full Grand Prix tions including Mexico City, impressive Kids Academy as well facility encompassing multiple Doha winner Bassem Hassan Mohammed. adventure, said Veronique Miami Beach, Paris, London, as watching top sport from the equine disciplines. Mohammed (QAT) fight to take HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Maheu, director at D-BOX. Berlin and Shanghai, and the chic cafes with dramatic views In collaboration with the a second consecutive win on Al Thani was also in attendance “You would need... data event will see the biggest stars of the main arena. Tour since 2008, Qatar has con- home turf. along with diplomats from sent straight from the car -- in the sport ensure thrilling com- Al Shaqab was established as tinued to build on its reputation Last year H H Sheikha Mozah around the world. tyre slip ratio, suspension, petition for spectators to witness part of H H The Father Emir as a global sports destination and bint Nasser Al Missned, together The impressive, cutting edge acceleration -- we can take in Doha. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al a hub for major international with children from the Al Shaqab venue of Al Shaqab will be a this minimal information and Families and friends flocked Thani’s vision and passion to sporting occasions. Riding Academy, presented both fitting stage for the final adren- transform it. They could to the venue last year filling the preserve and perpetuate the Local fans will be able to the coveted LGCT Championship aline-fuelled individual and broadcast live content main grandstand and enjoying Arabian horse in Qatar. support home city GCL team trophy to Harrie Smolders and team series battles of 2018, through a network in pop-up fun activities including pony It has since developed into a Doha Fursan Qatar, as well as also the winning medal to Qatari organisers said. theatres around the world,” she said, adding that the company intended to roll out the experience at fan zones on the F1 circuit. AC Milan okay Paqueta deal, Ibrahimovic a possibility The technology can be adapted to help train athletes AFP Wednesday, and should arrive Leonardo confirmed that the “It’s normal that there’s a According to reports, in other sit-down sports such in Milan in January. club have also “thought about” personal connection with him. Paqueta -- who can play both in as rowing, and Maheu said MILAN: AC Milan have reached “We have a basic agreement signing Ibrahimovic, who joined When we first arrived we midfield and as a striker -- has she had received interest agreement to sign rising with Flamengo, but the market LA Galaxy this season and has a thought about it, even at the age agreed a five-year deal worth from members of the horse- Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta with doesn’t re-open until January so contract through the 2019 season of 37 he can drive a team,” said €1.5m ($1.7m) per season. racing industry. Telemetric Swedish veteran Zlatan Ibrahi- there’s still a little bit to go before with the Major League Soccer Leonardo. Paqueta was called up to the sensors could also be placed movic a possibility to return to it’s official,” Brazilian Leonardo side. “Right now the transfer Brazil squad for the first time in on sports fields, balls and on Italy, club sporting director told journalists after receiving Ibrahimovic played for AC window is closed, we have to do August for friendlies against the players to remotely recreate Leonardo said yesterday. the Liedholm Award, an Italian Milan from 2010 to 2012, things calmly and not forget that United States and El Salvador. the visceral reality of NFL, The Serie A giants are prize which honours those who winning a Serie A title with the there are some Financial Fair He had also been targeted by football or baseball, or even reported to have agreed a €35m embody the values of sport. club, before moving to Paris Play stakes. We want to build a top European clubs including enhance reality. ($40.4m) deal with Flamengo - “Now we can only think of Saint-Germain and then Man- competitive team.” Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, “If you want to have the the club Paqueta joined as a ten- the league and the Europa chester United. In addition to his two seasons Lazio, Barcelona and Manchester stress of the baseball player year-old - in what would be the League, not the transfer market. Leonardo, a midfielder who with Milan, the Swede earlier City. while he gets to the plate, you most expensive signing of a Bra- “At the moment he’s a Fla- also played for both PSG and won three Serie A titles with city Leonardo, who also began can have a heartbeat added zilian player by an Italian club. mengo player, he still has some Milan, was director of football at rivals Inter Milan, and also his career at Flamengo, to the sensation on the seat The 21-year-old completed Brazilian league matches to play. the Parisian club when the played two seasons with reportedly played a key role in and then you can feel it, his medical in Rio on We have to wait for January 3.” Swedish striker joined. Juventus. Paqueta’s move to the San Siro. boom, boom,” she explained. FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER 2018 SPORT 19 Australia pull off a draw in first Test AFP SCOREBOARD Khawaja, who hit 11 bound- aries, had a top score of 26 in five DUBAI: Opener Usman Khawaja Pakistan 1st innings 482 previous Tests in Asia. hit a fighting hundred to foil Australia 1st innings 202 His innings was the second Pakistan 2nd innings 181-6 declared Pakistan and help Australia Australia 2nd innings longest in the fourth innings of a escape with a draw in the first A. Finch lbw b Mohammad Abbas ...... 49 Test, behind England’s Michael Test in Dubai yesterday. Usman Khawaja lbw b Yasir ...... 141 Atherton’s 645 minute vigil in The left-hander hit a solid 141 S. Marsh c Sarfraz b Abbas ...... 0 scoring 185 not out against South for his seventh Test hundred, M. Marsh lbw b Abbas ...... 0 Africa in Johannesburg in 1995. while skipper Tim Paine (61 not T. Head lbw b Hafeez ...... 72 It was the highest fourth- M. Labuschagne lbw b Yasir ...... 13 out) and Travis Head (72) also hit T. Paine not out ...... 61 innings score by any visiting half centuries as Australia fin- M. Starc c Azam b Yasir ...... 1 batsman in Asia, beating New ished at 362-8 late in the day P. Siddle lbw b Yasir ...... 0 Zealand’s Daniel Vettori’s 140 with lights coming on at Dubai N. Lyon not out ...... 5 made at Colombo against Sri stadium. Extras: (b 13, lb 4, nb 3) ...... 20 Lanka nine years ago. After Khawaja was dismissed Total: (for eight wkts; 139.5 overs) . 362 Pakistan started the day Did not bat: J. Holland with 14.3 overs left and Yasir Fall of wickets: 1-87 (Finch), 2-87 (S. Marsh), 3-87 needing seven wickets to win but Shah quickly removed Mitchell (M. Marsh), 4-219 (Head), 5-252 (Labuschagne), nothing worked for skipper Starc (one) and Peter Siddle 6-331 (Khawaja), 7-333 (Starc), 8-333 (Siddle) Sarfraz Ahmed, despite multiple (nought), Paine and number ten Bowling: Abbas 27-7-56-3, Hafeez 6-0-29-1, Yasir bowling changes. Nathan Lyon (five not out) sur- 43.5-9-114-4, Riaz 16-3-42-0 (3nb), Asif 37-8-87-0, Pakistan could have had vived 12.1 overs. Sohail 9-1-16-0, Shafiq 1-0-1-0 Head leg-before off leg-spinner Both had some anxious Result: Drawn Yasir on 44, but Sarfraz did not moments before players shook review umpire Richard Kettle- hands with one ball to go in leg- Pakistan failed to take a wicket borough’s not out decision. spinner Yasir’s final over. in the first session. The pair Replays showed the ball was Yasir had shaken the Aus- eventually put on an invaluable hitting the stumps. Australia’s Usman Khawaja plays a shot on the final day of first Test in Dubai, yesterday. tralian innings with 4-114 but 132 runs for the fourth wicket. Pakistan were only rewarded Australia clung on. They have Khawaja, who was born in when they took the second new now won two and drawn two of Pakistan but moved to Australia ball as soon as it was due and Imam-ul-Haq was ruled out of Thursday which was later found official said. Imam scored a bril- their 16 Tests in Asia since 2012. as a child, batted for eight hours Hafeez trapped Head leg-before the second Test against Australia to be fractured. liant 76 and then 48 in the Australia’s hero was 44 minutes and faced 302 balls with the first ball. Australia after injuring his little finger “Imam has fractured the fifth ongoing Test, fourth of his career Khawaja, who started the day on before he was sixth man out in wobbled but Khawaja and Paine, during the Dubai match. finger of his left hand while started in Ireland in May this 50 not out as Australia resumed the final session. who batted for 3 hours and 39 The 22-year-old left hander fielding and has been ruled out year. on 136-3. Khawaja and Head He was trapped leg-before minutes, ensured a draw. injured his finger while fielding of the second Test starting in Abu The second Test starts in Abu added 79 before lunch as sweeping Yasir. Meanwhile, Pakistan opener in Australia’s second innings on Dhabi from October 16,” a PCB Dhabi from October 16. Windies get Holder, Roach boost in bid to level series

REUTERS HYDERABAD TEST SQUADS looking to bowl at him in the second Test along with some HYDERABAD: West Indies, India of the other batters. I can’t boosted by the return of KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant obviously discuss our plans in regular captain (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav/Shardul the conference. I think we and fast bowler , Thakur have a better idea of what we have a plan for young India West Indies (possible) are looking to do against him.” opener Prithvi Shaw in the Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, , Sunil Ambris, Shimron Hetmeyer, Roston Chase, Shaw’s dream debut

second and final Test in Shane Dowrich (wk), Jason Holder (captain), Kemar Roach, Devendra Bishoo/Jomel Warrican, prompted comparisons with Hyderabad, all-rounder fellow Mumbaikar and Indian Roston Chase said yesterday. batting great Sachin Ten- Eighteen-year-old Shaw dulkar. India captain Virat smashed a fluent 134 on his made a fighting 53 in West mountain of runs to lose Kohli, however, does not want Test debut last week, setting Indies’ first innings in Rajkot, inside three days. Denying to burden the teenager with the tone for India’s victory by told reporters on the eve of India a flying start will be such expectations. an innings and 272 runs in the the second Test. crucial to their hopes of lev- “This guy is supremely tal- series opener in Rajkot. “I can’t really say who is elling the series in Hyderabad ented and he has got great India’s biggest Test victory playing but it’s really good to and Chase, who bowled 26 ability, as everyone saw,” came against a West Indies have Kemar Roach back. overs of off-spin for the lone Kohli told reporters side who sorely missed the (He’s) a very senior player and wicket of Ajinkya Rahane in yesterday. injured Holder and Roach, brings a lot of experience to Rajkot, said his team would “He is a keen learner, a who had gone home following the team. It’s good to have be better prepared for Shaw. very sharp guy. We all are a family bereavement, as the both of them back.” “We had a long chat after very happy for him, but I think hosts went 1-0 up in the two- India batted only once in the first Test and came up we should not compare him match series. Rajkot, amassing 649 for nine with some plans,” the to anyone yet or put him in a West Indies captain Jason Holder smiles during a training session in Hyderabad, “It’s always good to have before declaring, and West 26-year-old said. space where he starts feeling yesterday. the captain back,” Chase, who Indies crumbled under the “We discussed how we are pressure of any kind.” Root could be China crash to best if freed Put your Dukes up! Kohli comes 26 all out in from captaincy, World Twenty20 says Warne out swinging over Test balls qualifier - again AFP AFP

LONDON: Shane Warne believes England AFP quality, Kookaburra is Dukes for KUALA LUMPUR: China may have the should seriously consider replacing Joe still good quality,” and Australia, South world’s biggest population and the second Root with Jos Buttler as Test captain to HYDERABAD: Captain Kohli said ahead of the Africa, Bangladesh largest economy, but they are yet to allow Root to focus on becoming the Virat Kohli said India second Test in and Sri Lanka prefer impress in one area: the cricket field, world’s best batsman. should ditch the SG Hyderabad. the Kookaburra. where they have been humbled by Australia spin great Warne says the ball for their home He said the Kohli, whose side minnows Nepal. Yorkshire star could dominate the global games, complaining “quality of the ball has recently lost a five- China’s latest foray on the interna- game with the bat and feels Buttler would that it scuffs up too to be maintained oth- Test series in England tional stage ended in a huge defeat on make a “very, very good” Test skipper. easily and that he erwise you have too 4-1, said: “The Dukes Wednesday as they scored only 26 all out Warne worked with Buttler in his role would prefer to see many dead sessions in ball is the most suited in a World Twenty20 qualifier, a total as mentor for Indian Premier League Dukes balls used for a Test match. You ball according to me in which Nepal surpassed in just 11 balls. team Rajasthan Royals and is convinced all Tests worldwide. want to see exciting Test match cricket, It wasn’t even their worst innings of the Lancashire player has credible Test India thrashed the cricket and guys and if there is a situ- the tournament: China were 26 all out in leadership skills. West Indies by a working hard for runs ation I would vouch their loss to Singapore, and they had “I’ve worked with Jos a bit this year, record innings and 272 being in the battle all for it to be used all scores of 35 for nine, 45, and 48 in defeats and I think he’s someone who would runs last week but day”. over the world to Thailand, Bhutan and Myanmar. make an excellent captain,” said Warne. spinner Ravichandran The Indian captain because of the Given that the highest score in top- “I really enjoyed working with him, I’d Ashwin said the SG added: “I totally agree consistency.” tier T20 internationals is Australia’s 263 like to think I helped him out a little bit.” ball was “disap- with him (Ashwin). To The Dukes was for three against Sri Lanka in 2016, China Warne, who is promoting his autobi- pointing”, and that he have a ball that is always the ball of still have some way to go. ography, said Root is England’s best preferred Australia’s scuffed up in five choice until Australia’s Against Nepal, opening batsman Yan player but would be disappointed with Kookaburra or Dukes. overs is not something Kookaburra broke its Hongjiang top-scored for China with 11 his conversion rate when it came to “The quality of the that we have seen monopoly. While runs. The next biggest contribution was hundreds. (SG) balls used to be before.” England continue to the nine extras, and IPL bowler Sandeep “He’d love to have more hundreds to quite high before and The SG has always use Dukes in their Lamichhane picked up three wickets for be able to be spoken about in the same I don’t understand the been used by India in home Tests, the four runs. sentences as Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.” Indian captain Virat Kohli reason why it has gone five-day international Kookaburra is widely Qun Tiansen, one of eight Chinese “Maybe England could think about catches a ball during a training down because Dukes and domestic games, used in limited-overs players out for a duck, then went for 21 their best player having the shackles off, session in Hyderabad, yesterday. ball is still good while England use cricket. runs in his first and only over as Binod not having the responsibility of captaincy, Bhandari smashed 24 in Nepal’s quickfire and give it to someone like Jos Buttler.” reply of 29-0.