SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 SPORTS Games chief shrugs off Korean tensions

LONDON: Military tensions on the land crossings are extremely rare. was a “high possibility” of military clash- while a North Korean women’s ice hock- 2000s marching under a unified flag, and Korean peninsula should not prevent the Typically, North Korean athletes compet- es between the two Koreas. But Lee, who ey team played in the South. when two gymnasts from North and nuclear-armed North sending a team to ing in the South have flown in via took over the reins of the organizing Both events passed off “without inci- South posed together for a selfie at Rio the 2018 Winter Olympics in the South, Beijing. “It would be very symbolic as it committee in May last year, said there dent”, he said. “That is the peace of 2016 it was praised as embodying the according to the head of the Games would be the first time in the name of was plenty of precedent for inter-Korean sports.” North Korea has taken part in Olympic spirit. organizing committee Lee Hee-Beom. sport that they come by road,” said sporting contact during times of tension. several Winter Olympics, but only ever The former diplomat and trade minister organizing committee spokesperson “When we hosted the 1988 Olympic won two medals-a women’s speed skat- DEFECTIVE MEDALS RETURNED also said the heavily-fortified border Nancy Park. Games, the 2002 World Cup and 2011 ing silver at Innsbruck in 1964, and a Meanwhile in Sao Paulo, more than between the two Koreas would be Pyongyang has yet to officially con- World Athletics Championships on many bronze in the women’s short-track at 100 medals won at the Rio Olympics have opened to allow any North Korean team firm whether it will send any athletes to occasions we did have some military ten- Albertville 1992. Lee said he was in dis- been returned to organizers because they to make a highly symbolic road crossing the Winter Games, and a recent surge in sions between North and South so today cussions with Olympic officials over have rusted or developed black spots on into the South. tensions across the peninsula has done is not an exception,” Lee told journalists including North Korean ice hockey them, the games’ spokesman said on Because the 1950-53 Korean War end- nothing to raise the hopes of those who Friday on a visit to London. He noted teams and a number of figure skaters in Friday. At least 130 medals, mostly bronze ed with an armistice rather than a peace would like to see it happen. Although he that even during the current tensions, the Pyeongchang Games. Past Olympics and including some from the Paralympics, treaty, the two Koreas remain technically favors engagement with the North, new- the South Korean women’s football team have seen moments of inter-Korean rec- are being fixed by the Brazilian Mint who at war. Their common border is among ly-elected South Korean President Moon played an Asian Cup qualifying match onciliation. The teams entered the open- made them for last year’s event, Mario the most militarised in the world, and Jae-In warned just this week that there with the North in Pyongyang last month, ing ceremonies for several Games in the Andrada told Reuters.—Agencies Latif shuns Pakistan Spot-fixing hearing

LAHORE: Former Pakistan opener Khalid without Latif’s presence. Latif today boycotted the proceedings of a “If a player or participant is not appear- spot fixing hearing after a tribunal refused ing before tribunal, from the start or from to give him a copy of his recorded inter- the middle, then the tribunal has complete view. The 31-year-old batsman stands right to listen the remaining case as per the accused of attempting to spot-fix, accept- law and give the decision,” said Rizvi. The ing an offer by a bookmaker which he did PCB said the video interview was conduct- not report, and luring other players into the ed by its anti-corruption unit on February conspiracy. 19 and contains a confessional statement His case is currently being heard by a from Latif. The main charges for Latif are three-member tribunal convened to adju- luring other players to participate in the fix- dicate on the scandal which emerged dur- ing and not reporting the offers. ing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was United Arab Emirates in February and banned for six months and spinner March. Latif’s lawyer Badre Alam said he Mohammad Nawaz for one month and had rejected the tribunal because it refused both were fined after they confessed to fail- to give his client a copy of his interview, ing to report meetings with bookmakers. recorded by the Pakistan Board Latif and three other players-, (PCB) anti-corruption tribunal in February. Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed-are also “We have asked for the recording of provisionally suspended on various Khalid’s interview which is our right but the charges and face bans ranging from five tribunal has rejected it,” Alam told years to life if found guilty. The Pakistan reporters. “Until that (interview is given) we Cricket Board on Friday said it had seized will not continue the proceedings, we told bat grips given to Latif by a bookmaker them we are not running away but we are which the Islamabad United opener was talking in legal terms.” PCB lawyer Taffazul allegedly supposed to use to indicate he Rizvi said tribunal could proceed even would participate in a spot-fix. —AFP

OSN brings ICC Champions MUMBAI: Steven Smith greets teammate Mahendra Singh Dhoni after winning the first 2017 Indian Premier Trophy live and exclusive League (IPL) Qualifier 1 cricket match between and Rising Pune Supergiants at The Wankhede Stadium. — AFP

DUBAI: OSN, the region’s leading enter- Darren Sammy complete the outstanding tainment network, is hosting a world class line-up. “As the home of cricket in the Pune take on Mumbai line up of legendary cricketers in Dubai, region, OSN takes pride in delivering a pan- who will provide expert analyses during el of pundits that resonate with our diverse the ICC Champions Trophy, live from the audience and who add extra value to our to OSN studios. This complements the live OSN’s live and exclusive coverage of the and exclusive coverage of all 15 matches ICC Champions Trophy. We have a world in IPL title showdown from the much-anticipated tournament class team of experts who will provide a only on OSN Sport Cricket HD beginning unique insight and most of all entertain our June 1. Cricket fans also have the option of subscribers during the most eagerly await- HYDERABAD: ’s Rising Pune has given the team many good the challenge. Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah has enjoying the action on-the-go on the ed cricket tournament of the year, assuring Supergiant eye their maiden Indian Premier starts in the tournament with Sharma, burly been the perfect death bowler for Mumbai with award-winning online TV platform, OSN a huge qualitative difference for cricket- League crown as they meet tournament West Indian Pollard and Sharma also rising to his ability to bowl consistent yorkers. — AFP Play. Defining its credentials as the region’s lovers,” said Andy Warkman, SVP, Sport & favourites Mumbai Indians in a mouth-watering leading online streaming platform. Sports Production. title clash in Hyderabad today. Pune, who ended Hosted by veteran sports presenter Jim The live analysis of this year’s tourna- seventh in the eight-team Twenty20 tournament Rosenthal, OSN’s studio panel will see leg- ment will feature the panel of cricket leg- last year, had a mixed start this season only to Bowlers get Bangladeshi endary England batsman and Ashes winner ends speaking directly from OSN’s Dubai pick up momentum towards the business end. Michael Vaughan once again give his studios. They will analyze on-pitch action Pune’s record buy Ben Stokes proved to be expert views alongside ex Pakistan coach and share their expertise from the first the trump card as the England all-rounder’s captain seal of approval and fast bowler Waqar Younis. Dehli match to the last. The first match will see showing with the bat and ball was instrumental Daredevils Captain and Indian fast bowler England battle Bangladesh from 12.30pm in the side clinching a play-off berth. But the DUBLIN: Mashrafe Mortaza was a satisfied next over, the first international for Zaheer Khan and West Indian all-rounder (UAE time) and then on Sunday 4th it’s time team showed in the first qualifier against captain after Bangladesh swept aside Ireland debutant slow left armer Sunzamul Islam, and winning captain of two ICC World T20 for the massive v Pakistan game from Mumbai that it is not a one-man army after to win their first match in the one-day inter- Ireland were back in trouble at 126 for five. tournaments and winner of 2017 Pakistan 12.30pm (UAE time) only on OSN Sport young spinner Washington Sundar turned out to national Tri-Series. A much-improved bowl- Mustafizur added the of Kevin Super League with Peshawar Zalami, Cricket HD. be the unlikely hero with his match-winning ing performance, after Mortaza won the toss, O’Brien and Gary Wilson to finish an impres- haul of three wickets. Sundar’s performance put the Tigers in control and they knocked off sive nine overs with four for 23. made up for Stokes’ absence, after he left for the 182 runs required for victory inside 28 “Early wickets always put pressure on a national duty before the knockouts. overs, for the loss of just two wickets, with team but Tamim Iqbal and Soumya batted However Pune, whose two-year run along Soumya Sarkar finishing 87 from 68 really well and scored at seven an over for the with Gujarat Lions ends this season, may be play- balls with 11 fours and two sixes. first 10 overs which was important for us,” ing their last game in the cash-rich league after “We didn’t take early wickets in the last added Mortaza. The partnership was ended being denied an extension by the league’s gov- match but this time the bowlers did a really at 95 but another stand of 76 between erning council early this month. The two banned good job and that’s something we are look- Soumya and Sabbir Rahman (34 off 35 balls), franchises - Super Kings and Rajasthan ing for all the time,” said Mortaza. “Winning also at seven runs an over, eased Bangladesh Royals - are all set to come back in the next edi- the toss was crucial as there was some mois- towards the finishing line and gives Mortaza tion of the league, having served two year sus- ture and both fast bowlers used it well.” hope that they can be more competitive in pensions for their involvement in 2013 spot-fix- Mustafizur Rahman took the wicket of the the final game against New Zealand on ing saga. But captain Smith, who took charge dangerous Paul Stirling with his third ball, Wednesday. “We’re looking looking forward from Mahendra Singh Dhoni ahead of this sea- and although Rubel Hossain did not take a to it, we had a chance in the last match but son, is focussed on the task at hand as he praised wicket his pace and movement consistently didn’t go through with it, but if we play as the team for its stupendous showing. “You really troubled the Ireland batsmen. well as we did today there is a chance to win need to peak at the right time in tournaments The introduction of Mosaddek Hossain the game,” he added. like this... It is a really exciting time for us,” Smith, accounted for Ireland captain William The next match in the series is on Sunday who has accumulated 421 runs in 14 matches, Porterfield and when Shakib also struck in his with Ireland’s final game against New said after his team booked the final spot. second over, Ireland were 61 for three in the Zealand and Joyce is looking for a big finish Dhoni’s finishing powers might be on the 15th over. Ed Joyce, playing his first match of from the hosts. “New Zealand had a very wane but the gutsy wicketkeeper-batsman’s the series, and Niall O’Brien, who scored a good win against Bangladesh,” said Joyce. presence is enough to intimidate the opposition. century against New Zealand in their previ- “But if we bat the way we have done in the His 26-ball unbeaten 40 in the previous game ous match, led a recovery of sorts. last three games without giving silly wickets was a proof of his game-changing ability. “Steve away like we did today we can put up a Highlanders slaughter Force Smith has led the side admirably and got Pune EARLY WICKETS decent total, and then the bowlers are capa- into the finals. Of course he has had great help However, Mustafizur returned to have ble of putting up a good performance like from Dhoni,” former India captain O’Brien caught at third man, inches inside the they did in the first two games. “But they PERTH: The Highlanders put the Western minutes. The Highlanders were in no mood boundary, and when Joyce followed in the weren’t so good today.” —AFP Force to the sword with a powerhouse 55-6 to be sympathetic and pounced in the 19th said in a column in The Times of India. Pune’s win in their Super Rugby match in Perth minute, with Tevita Li breaking down the arsenal boasts fast bowler Jaydev yesterday night. The New Zealanders made side line for the opening try of the night Unadkat who is getting adequate support from it eight straight wins, and nine from 12 and his second of the season. fellow paceman Dan Christian, leg-spinner matches overall this season, by running in The home team stayed in touch through Adam Zampa and Sundar. eight unanswered tries as they push successive penalties to Ian Prior to close towards the playoffs. It was a horror night the deficit to 10-6. In the 36th minute the ONE MORE HURDLE for the Force, who are living on Super visitors tightened their grip when Aki Seiuli, But two-time champions Mumbai would be Rugby’s death row, and were never in the a late inclusion in the starting 15, intercept- no pushovers as skipper Rohit Sharma insisted hunt as Australia’s drought against New ed close to the line and dived over. Down that the team would take their confidence for- Zealand teams in 2017 continued. 17-6 at the break, the Force also had to ward from the win against the Kolkata Knight At one stage the Force were down two cope with being a man down after Semisi Riders in the second qualifier. Mumbai, who men with a pair of players in the sin bin, Masirewa was sent off late in the half. would be playing their fourth IPL final, have and they were simply outclassed by the In the 44th minute, Highlanders speed- been the team to beat in this edition with 11 2015 champions and 2016 semi-finalists, ster Patrick Osborne broke away after a wins out of their 16 matches. who appeared to enjoy the slippery condi- lovely dummy and left the Force players in “We have been really working hard. We don’t tions and piled on 38 points in the second the wake as he sprinted to the try line. The shy away from going into the finals the hard half. It was the Highlanders’ biggest ever Force had Richie Arnold sent off in the 47th way. Today was the perfect day. Gives you a lot win and skipper Elliott Dixon was thrilled minute and three minutes later Seiuli again of confidence,” Sharma said after their thumping with the effort. “We have been working celebrated his promotion with a second try win against Kolkata on Friday. “We’ve not had a towards an 80-minute performance and it as he charged over from 5m out. The great history against (Pune). Just one more hur- was good to get that,” he said. “It has been a Highlanders then added a further four late dle,” Sharma said, whose team has lost all its good (few weeks) for us.” tries through Rob Thompson with a double, three games against Pune this season. The Force were coming off a rare win, Dillon Hunt and Richard Buckman as the Champions in 2013 and 2015, Mumbai boast against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, but Force completely folded. Force captain Bill of a number of match-winners including some with an already lengthy injury list their Meakes was dismayed by the performance. power-packed foreign presence in big-hitter DUBLIN: Bangladesh’s Sunzamul Islam bowls during play in the fourth ODI match of the hopes took an early dent when they lost “It was really embarrassing for us,” he said. Kieron Pollard and New Zealand fast bowler Ireland Tri-Nation Series between Ireland and Bangladesh at the Malahide Cricket Club. —AFP Peter Grant to a head knock after just 10 “Our workrate wasn’t there.” — AFP Mitchell McClenaghan. Wicket-keeper batsman