Schumacher’s son Mick gets ‘dream’ first F1 spot with Haas page 13 THURSDay, DECEMBER 3, 2020 Doha 2030 shares its bid plans with National Olympic Committees during virtual workshops Tribune News Network Doha We are delighted to have the opportunity to meet with our Asian NOC colleagues and friends and have a Doha 2030 on Wednesday hosted regional virtual work- two-way conversation about our bid. At Doha 2030 we are shops for National Olympic committed to incorporating the feedback of the NOC family Committees (NOCs) in which into our plans, every step of the way. These workshops are they sought to demonstrate just the latest example of that and are a chance to hear how Doha 2030 will belong to NOC feedback before our final presentation in Oman. all of Asia in a celebration of If we have the honour of being awarded the Asian Games excellence and diversity. The workshops have been this process of collaboration will of course continue developed to maximise the op- through and beyond 2030. portunity for two-way discus- sions with NOCs who are en- of Doha 2030’s sustainable, grammes will begin from the Doha 2030 Chairman HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani couraged to provide feedback world-class Games plan, which first quarter of 2021 and run and input. Taking into account guarantees NOCs and their through to 2030, allowing feedback of the NOC family clear, our ambition is for Doha time difference and language, athletes certainty of the very NOCs to overcome existing into our plans, every step of 2030 to unite Asian NOCs NOCs were grouped into three best conditions and a welcom- challenges and build their the way. These workshops and celebrate our continent’s workshops according to the fol- ing, inclusive environment. best teams for the Games. are just the latest example of wonderful diversity. We are lowing OCA zones: East Asia The bid also promises to Doha 2030 Chairman that and are a chance to hear stronger when we are together and South East Asia; South and use the legacy of the Doha 2006 HE Sheikh Joaan, said, “We NOC feedback before our fi- and when we support and re- Central Asia; and West Asia. Asian Games to give back to are delighted to have the op- nal presentation in Oman. If spect each other. In Doha, we The workshops were facili- Asia with a number of immedi- portunity to meet with our we have the honour of being have a lot of experience we tated by Doha 2030 Chairman ate legacy projects, which only Asian NOC colleagues and awarded the Asian Games are ready to share but we also His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Doha can legitimately provide. friends and have a two-way this process of collabora- value and recognise all that we bin Hamad Al Thani. The Doha 2030 team conversation about our bid. tion will of course continue can learn from our brothers During the workshop, the explained during the work- At Doha 2030 we are com- through and beyond 2030. and sisters in the OCA fam- board so that we deliver a truly every NOC benefits and where team provided a summary shops how these legacy pro- mitted to incorporating the “As we have always made ily. We will take all that on Asian, Asian Games, where we all belong.”

Securing Sport 2020 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Expert Debates Melbourne’s Kean excited ahead of decisive clash with FC Seoul AFC “We do not expect to ro- Doha tate heavily given the nature of the game, but we do have Ahead of their Group E de- other players if we need to use cider against FC Seoul, Mel- them,” said Kean. Speakers on Day Two of Securing Sport 2020 virtual conference. bourne Victory assistant coach For FC Seoul, a draw would Steve Kean expressed his ex- be enough to seal a knock-out citement in the build up to stage place for the first time Matchday Six of the 2020 AFC since 2016, but for head coach Combating organised Champions League. Lee Won-jun, it is all about Sitting in third place on collecting the three points. crime, role of sponsors four points, just two points “Tomorrow’s game is our behind their Thursday oppo- last in the group stage and we nents, a win for Melbourne have to win it as it is very im- in safeguarding sport Victory could see them reach portant,” said Lee. the Round of 16 for the first “It is true that we are bet- time since 2016. The first ter positioned than Melbourne hot topics match between the two sides Victory ahead of tomorrow’s ended in a 1-0 win for FC Seoul match, but we are only think- Tribune News Network ment of resources.” courtesy of Park Chu-young’s ing about winning the game, Doha Speaking of the big data early effort. not drawing.” and its importance in fighting “It has been a very quick Australia’s Melbourne Victory will “We are preparing on that Taking a multifaceted ap- crime in sport, Giovanni Russo, turnaround from the last match, take on South Korea’s FC Seoul Group E basis. The players’ condition is proach towards analysing the Deputy Head Prosecutor of the so we focused on video analysis (KOR) in Group G clash of the Club P W D L GF GA GD Pts very good, and we want to win issues in sport security, leading Italian Antimafia and Anti- and recovery,” said Kean. AFC Champions League at the Beijing FC (CHN) 5 5 0 0 11 3 8 15 this game. Our objective is to international specialists gath- terrorism National Directorate “Today we will get to see Education City Stadium at 4pm FC Seoul (KOR) 5 2 0 3 9 7 2 6 go beyond the Round of 16, we ered during Securing Sport said, “Sport is not just a social the stadium and have a tactical on Thursday. came to Qatar with the ambition Melbourne Victory (AUS) 5 1 1 3 4 8 -4 4 2020 Expert Debates part of phenomenon. It’s now a sector session on the pitch. We are in of bringing success to this club. “ the programme to examine of the economy that has seen its pre-season, this is a time when prepared for the game.” Chiangrai United (THA) 5 1 1 3 4 10 -6 4 The second Group E fix- and discuss some of the key importance growing exponen- we are preparing the team and “We have a strong team to ture sees guaranteed group industry aspects, such as The tially in the last few decades. the players. We will choose start tomorrow, it is very excit- game early in our season with the next stage of such a high winners Beijing FC face elimi- Use of Big Data in Combat- Due to this fact, a large number the players who are physically ing for us to have such a big the opportunity to progress to calibre competition. nated Chiangrai United. ting the Infiltration of Trans- of people with economic inter- national Organised Crime in ests started to get involved in Sport, The Role of Sponsors in sport which led to the observa- Safeguarding Sport and Devel- tion that sport represents a cor- oping an International Frame- ruption risk and vulnerability work on Private Security at to be controlled by crime. Focus key for Tokyo against Perth Glory Major Sporting Events. This indicates the need The objectives of the pan- for an overall and not frag- AFC Standings Group F els were to present an open de- mented view of the phenom- Doha bate on the current challenges, ena of crime in sport and the Club P W D L GF GA GD Pts such as on the use and analy- need for a holistic approach FC Tokyo head coach Kenta Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) 5 4 1 0 10 4 6 13 sis of Big Data in combatting that allows to correctly detect Hasegawa called for focus as FC Tokyo (JPN) 5 2 1 2 5 5 0 7 crimes in sport, the role of and interpret information. We his side face Perth Glory and Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 5 2 1 2 8 9 -1 7 sports sponsors in the organi- are talking about big data and direct rivals Shanghai Shenhua Perth Glory (AUS) 5 0 1 4 5 10 -5 1 sation, sustainability and lega- algorithms that are capable simultaneously play runaway cy of sport events of national, of collecting and processing Group F leaders Ulsan Hyun- regional and international in- many variables in a short time dai in the 2020 AFC Champi- Today’s Matches At Education City Stadium 1pm: Perth Glory vs terest and exploring the devel- and present visual results ons League on Thursday. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium FC Tokyo opment of frameworks from with meaningful logics and The two sides faced each 1pm: Shanghai Shenhua 4pm: Melbourne Victory which bidding and host na- forecast patterns to help fight other back in February, with vs Ulsan Hyundai tions, events’ organisers and organised crime.” FC Tokyo taking the three vs FC Seoul the private security industry Phil Walker, Lead, Major points through Leandro’s late 4pm: Beijing vs Chiangrai Utd can develop their private secu- Events Program, OSAC, Dip- goal in the Japanese capital. rity strategies for MSE’s lomatic Security Service, U.S. Now with Shanghai Shen- “The situation is we can “Winning the game will Speaking of Big Data, Juli- Department of State, said, “The hua hot on their trail, coach decide our qualification des- give us real confidence. If we Japan’s FC Tokyo will play Australia’s Perth Glory in Group F tie of ette Kayyem, Belfer Senior Lec- private sector is a force of multi- Hagesawa’s men need to bet- tiny on our own, so we must talk about small details of our the AFC Champions League Melbourne at 1pm at the Education City turer International Security at plier in major events. They are a ter the Chinese side’s Match- win this game tomorrow,” said play, if you lose concentration Stadium on Thursday. Harvard’s Kennedy School of benefit at the operational level.” day Six result to secure pas- Hasegawa. in small situations like set- Government and Faculty Chair Filip Maes, Senior Direc- sage to the next round. “It is a simultaneous kick-off pieces, that has an impact on his club eyeing a return to the our ranks,” said Ola. of the Homeland Security and tor, Global Security & Safety, FC Tokyo and Shanghai for both games. We must win our overall play, so we need to AFC Champions League in “We started in a less than Security and Global Health Visa, Inc said, “The business Shenhua exchanged one-goal comfortably to avoid having to stay focused.” 2022. an ideal situation, but we are Projects, said, “When you think sector can only be successful margin wins in their double- look at the other game. This is Meanwhile, Perth Glory “This is the end of the improving in all aspects and of sharing big data one of the if the event is successful. In- header earlier in Doha, ruling the fourth game in our group head coach Christian Ola has tournament for us, everyone is we are happy with the pro- things that big data is really formation sharing is the key to out head-to-head as a tie- stage, so we have to cooperate turned his attention to the up- buzzing and motivated despite gress and we hope we can fin- helpful is the tactical deploy- success.” breaker. and play together as a team. coming A-League season with injuries and suspensions in ish our campaign on a high.” Sports Thursday, December 3, 2020 13

Qatar team prepares FOR World Cup 2022 & Asia Cup 2023 qualifier vs Bangladesh

Qatar national football team players during a training session on Wednesday ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifying clash against Bangladesh on December 4 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. The Round 8 match will be the first of the Asian qualifiers to be held during the year 2020 after the approval by FIFA and the National Federations. Although Qatar national team has booked a direct qualification ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the host country, the team is competing to obtain qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup as it aspires to defend the title that it won in 2019. Qatar is top of Group E (13 points from five matches) while last-placed Bangladesh has one point from four games. Australian Open Lukaku double keeps Inter alive delayed to in UEFA Champions League Feb 8: report AFP safety was paramount. AFP Italians hit back, with Lautaro Melbourne “Unlike every other ten- Monchengladbach (Germany) Martinez hitting the post be- nis tournament that the men’s fore Lukaku restored the lead. The Australian Open tennis and women’s tours will play Romelu Lukaku kept Inter Having been stifled by the Grand Slam will start three this year, only the Australian Milan’s Champions League Gladbach defence for much of weeks late on February 8, Open is a tennis tournament hopes alive on Tuesday, scoring the game Lukaku finally found reports said on Wednesday, in a city where it can likely be two second-half goals to seal a space to shoot on 65 minutes, with players cleared to train assumed that those players dramatic 3-2 win at Borussia and sent a low strike whistling during quarantine follow- will bring the virus here,” he Moenchengladbach in their pe- past Sommer. ing lengthy negotiations with told reporters. nultimate group game. The Belgian doubled the state authorities. Lukaku’s double gave Inter lead seven minutes later, slot- According to Australian their first victory in the Cham- ting home Achraf Hakimi’s media, the start date was an- WTA rebrand pions League this season in cross at the end of a clinically nounced to players by tour- aligns women’s a rollercoaster game, blow- executed counter-attack. nament director Craig Tiley. ing Group B wide open ahead Gladbach hit back equally If confirmed, it will join the tournaments of the final round of group clinically, Plea squeezing the three other major tourna- with ATP matches next week. ball past Samir Handanovic ments in being disrupted by “A leader? I’m just one of on the break just two minutes the coronavirus. Paris: The WTA on Wednes- the 25 players in the squad,” after the restart. Tennis Australia has been day announced that it was said the Belgium striker. The Frenchman found the in protracted talks with Vic- changing the classification “There are a lot of players who net again seven minutes from toria state authorities in Mel- of its tournaments to put its have more experience than time, but the goal was disal- bourne, which only emerged tour in line with that of the me. I just want to help the lowed for offside after Breel from a months-long lockdown men’s ATP tennis tour. team win, that’s my only moti- Embolo was ruled to have in October following a second The tour’s highest Premier vation on a daily basis. blocked the goalkeeper’s wave of cases. Mandatory and Premier 5 “I have been playing the view. “It’s taken a while, but the tournament categories will best football of my career for a Inter Milan’s Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku (right) celebrates with defender Matteo Darmian after scor- “There were a few deci- great news is it looks like we are from 2021 be renamed WTA year and a half.” ing the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Moenchengladbach in sions which went against us going to be able to hold the AO 1000, mirroring the ATP It was another match-win- Germany on Tuesday. (AFP) at the end. I don’t think Breel (Australian Open) on 8 Febru- 1000 tournaments which ning performance from Lu- was in the way. I wished the ary,” Tiley was quoted as telling are one step down from the kaku, who now has 13 goals in of the group after Shakhtar thing,” said Inter coach Antonio nutmegging goalkeeper Yann officials a merry Christmas af- players in a leaked letter. Grand Slams. 15 European games for Inter, Donetsk beat Real Madrid Conte, who is bidding to avoid Sommer from a sharp angle ter the game,” Gladbach coach “Players will have to quar- The Premier tournaments and one which left Gladbach 2-0 earlier on Tuesday, his fourth Champions League after a neat passing move be- Marco Rose told DAZN. antine for two weeks from 15 will become WTA 500, the In- midfielder Christoph Kramer but they are now just three group-stage exit as a coach. tween Lukaku and Roberto With the group now poised January, but the Victorian ternationals will be renamed scratching his head. points ahead of bottom side Gagliardini. on a knife edge, Inter hope government has agreed to WTA 250 and the 125Ks will “If you mark him the whole Inter. Darmian strikes Alassane Plea equalised to complete an unlikely es- special conditions for AO par- take the name WTA 125. time, then they play around With just a single point In need of a win at all costs, for Gladbach on the stroke of cape attempt when they host ticipants - agreeing that they “The WTA worked with the him, so it’s a balancing act. separating the top three sides, Inter set up to hit Gladbach on half-time, heading in a pin- Shakhtar in their final group need to be able to prepare for ATP to create consistency But that’s Inter for you. They all four teams still have a the break, with Matteo Dar- point cross from Inter loanee game next Wednesday. a Grand Slam.” and alignment across profes- have so many different fac- chance to qualify next week. mian causing early trouble for Valentino Lazaro. Gladbach, meanwhile, Under the plan, players sional tennis,” the WTA said ets to their game, and they “We could have avoided the German defence on the With Inter unsettled by the travel to Madrid with hopes who test negative for the virus in a statement. showed that today,” Kramer unnecessary suffering (in the right wing. equaliser, Marcus Thuram al- of qualifying from the group will be able to train while in In April Roger Federer said told broadcaster DAZN. group), but we are alive and It was Darmian who gave most headed the hosts in front stage for the first time in the isolation, Tiley wrote. that he wanted the ATP and Gladbach still sit on top that is the most important Inter the lead on 17 minutes, shortly after the break. Yet the Champions League era. Tennis Australia did WTA tours to merge, with not confirm the reports on seven bodies managing the Wednesday, and said plans professional tennis competi- were still awaiting approval tions that the likes of the from the state government. Swiss and Serena Williams Quick read A February 8 start date compete in. Schumacher’s son Mick gets would allow for a week of In addition to the ATP and Zidane determined warm-up tournaments after WTA, there is also the Inter- to turn around quarantine, but would likely national Tennis Federation, Real Madrid slump ‘dream’ first F1 spot with Haas mean scrapping the flagship which is the sport’s govern- ATP Cup men’s team event ing body, and separate or- Kiev: Zinedine Zidane rub- due to a lack of time. ganisers for each of the four bished suggestions he could AFP Confirming the news 24 to showcase their credentials. Victorian Premier Daniel Grand Slams -- the US and walk away from Real Madrid Sakhir hours after Mazepin’s appoint- He added: “Mick has won Andrews earlier said he re- Australian Opens, Roland and said the Spanish giants did ment, Haas announced that races, collected podiums and mained committed to holding Garros and Wimbledon. (AFP) not deserve to lose after going Mick Schumacher, the son of they had signed Schumacher excelled against some pretty the Australian Open, but that down 2-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk seven-time world champion “in a multi-year agreement”. exceptional talent in 2020. on Tuesday, their second defeat Michael Schumacher, says his “This is definitely a new “I firmly believe he’s by the Ukrainians in this sea- childhood dream has come challenge,” Schumacher added. earned the opportunity to son’s Champions League leav- true following Wednesday’s “I look forward to finding out graduate into Formula 1 based ing their hopes of reaching the announcement he will drive in what it’s like - how to improve on his performances. AJS Wathanan wins Late last 16 in the balance. Formula One for the first time and develop a car from the be- “We are putting in place “I am not going to resign, not with Haas next season. ginning to the end of the year.” our building blocks for the Rabiah Saad Al Kaabi Cup at all,” said Zidane. “We are “It’s incredible and it defi- The German said he was continued long-term growth always going to have difficult nitely hasn’t sunk in yet,” the Mick Schumacher. (AFP) prepared for the huge media of the team and I look forward moments, and we are on a bad 21-year-old said in a press attention as he prepares to fol- to Mick’s contributions both run, but we need to keep going.” conference. Haas will be counting on low in his illustrious father’s on and off the track in that “I have the strength needed to “I’m happy it’s been decided their 2021 pairing to prove footsteps. process.” turn the situation around and - I have been chasing this dream their mettle on the track after “I’ve been in the limelight The Schumacher family I am going to give everything since I was three years old.” Grosjean and Magnussen’s since my childhood, especially fiercely protect the privacy of to do that, so are the players,” Schumacher junior will frugal haul of just three points because I chose this sport, but both Mick and his stricken fa- added the Frenchman, whose partner Russian driver Nikita between them this campaign so far I have come to terms ther. Michael Schumacher has team also lost at the weekend, Mazepin, another Formula One with two races to go. with it. not been seen in public since going down 2-1 at home to Ala- debutant, in the Haas lineup. Schumacher has shone “The results speak for suffering a serious head injury ves in La Liga. “We played well Haas team principal Guen- in Formula Two this season themselves,” he added. in a skiing accident in Decem- and we deserved more. We just ther Steiner welcomed his new and leads the standings by 14 “This attention has always ber 2013. need to lift our heads up and drivers, tweeting: “Super ex- points after achieving 10 po- been normal for me. The im- His wife Corinna, Mick’s think about the next game.” cited about having two rookies dium finishes and feature-race portant thing is to have people mother, issued a rare state- Struggles without Ramos in our team for next year! Wel- victories at Monza and Sochi. who tell you the truth, who ment on the Formula One leg- Real were returning to the scene come, Mick!” He will get a taste of what keep you grounded and help end’s 50th birthday in January of their victory over Liverpool in They replace Haas’s cur- is in at the elite level when he you along the way. 2019, saying the family were the 2018 final, but they looked rent driver pairing of Romain takes part in Haas’ free prac- “And I’m lucky to have doing “everything humanly Al Ghazali Stud’s AJS Wathanan (QA) won the feature event (1900m a shadow of their former selves Grosjean – who escaped a tice ahead of the 2020 season- people like that around me.” possible” to help her husband. Conditions for Local Purebred Arabians) to claim the Late Rabiah in the cold and the snow in fiery crash in Sunday’s Bah- ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Steiner said the Formula 2 Schumacher paid tribute Saad Al Kaabi Cup in QREC’s 15th race meeting at Al Rayyan Park Kiev’s Olympic Stadium. (AFP) rain Grand Prix – and Kevin on December 11 before taking championship had long served to his parents, saying: “I owe on Wednesday. Brothers of the Late Rabiah Saad Al Kaabi presented Magnussen. part in testing a few days later. as a proving ground for talent them everything.” trophies to the winners of the Cup named after their late brother. 14 Thursday, December 3, 2020 Sports Pandya-Jadeja, pace trio ensure win for India in tense final ODI AFP Canberra

India survived a blistering Glenn Maxwell half-century to hold their nerve for a 13-run victory and deny Australia a one-day international series clean sweep in Canberra on England’s Dawid Malan. (AFP) Wednesday. While the explosive Max- well was at the crease Aus- Malan reaches tralia were on track to reel in India’s 302-5 total. highest rating But Jasprit Bumrah got the crucial breakthrough bowling in T20 history Maxwell with a trademark yor- ker for 59 off 38 balls studded AFP with three fours and four sixes. London That left Australia 38 runs away from victory with three England batsman Dawid wickets and 35 balls left, but Malan has set a ranking-points India claimed the remaining record for batsmen in interna- wickets to clinch victory with tional Twenty20 cricket after three balls left. smashing 173 runs in Eng- Australia won the opening land’s 3-0 whitewash against two matches in Sydney by 66 South Africa. runs and 51 runs, but India The 33-year-old left-hand- emphatically ended their five- er climbed to number one in game ODI losing streak – their the world in September after a worst since January 2016 – relentlessly consistent period to pull off an exciting victory of scoring in the format and ahead of Friday’s first of three India’s captain Virat Kohli (left) celebrates the victory against Australia in the third One-Day International India’s batsmen Hardik Pandya (right) and Ravindra Jadeja walk back has followed up with a man- Twenty20 matches against the cricket with a teammate India’s Jasprit Bumrah at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. (AFP) to the pavilion at the end of the innings. The two shared an unbroken of-the-series performance. Australians in Canberra. 150-run stand with Pandya making 99 not out and Jadeja 66 n.o. (AFP) India’s victory was made possible by an unbroken 150- The 33-year-old left-hand- run partnership between man- Scoreboard er hit a match-winning 55 of-the-match Hardik Pandya India S. Smith c Rahul b Thakur 7 on Sunday before scoring and Ravindra Jadeja to swing S. Dhawan c Agar b Abbott 16 M. Henriques c Dhawan b Thakur 22 a superb 99 not out at the momentum after Josh Ha- S. Gill lbw b Agar 33 C. Green c Jadeja b Yadav 21 Newlands on Tuesday and zlewood once again proved Vi- V. Kohli c Carey b Hazlewood 63 A. Carey run out (Kohli/Rahul) 38 now has 915 points in the rat Kohli’s nemesis. S. Iyer c Labuschagne b Zampa 19 G. Maxwell b Bumrah 59 “I have been working hard K.L. Rahul lbw b Agar 5 A. Agar c Yadav b Natarajan 28 ICC rankings. H. Pandya not out 92 S. Abbott c Rahul b Thakur 4 to play for my country, happy R. Jadeja not out 66 A. Zampa lbw b Bumrah 4 that I’ve got the opportunity,” Extras: (b1 lb1 nb2 w4) 8 J. Hazlewood not out 7 He hit a match-winning Pandya said. “You need to be Total: (50 overs; for five wickets) 302 Extras: (lb6, nb2, w9) 17 55 on Sunday before scoring a on your toes when it comes to Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Dhawan), 2-82 (Gill), Total: (49.3 overs; all out) 289 superb 99 not out off just 47 playing against Australia. You 3-114 (Iyer), 4-123 (Rahul), 5-152 (Kohli). Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Lauschagne), 2-56 balls at Newlands on Tuesday got to push hard and face the Did not bat: S. Thakur, K. Yadav, J. Bumrah, T. (Smith), 3-117 (Henriques), 4-123 (Finch), and now has 915 points in the challenge against them.” Natarajan 5-158 (Green), 6-210 (Carey), 7-268 (Maxwell), Bowling: Hazlewood 10-1-66-1 (2w 1nb), 8-278 (Abbott), 9-278 (Agar), 10-289 (Zampa) International Cricket Council Hazlewood again got the Maxwell 5-0-27-0 (2w), Abbott 10-0-84-1, Bowling: Bumrah 9.3-0-43-2 (5w), Natarajan rankings. measure of the India master Green 4-0-27-0 (1nb), Agar 10-0-44-2, Zampa 10-1-70-2 (4w 1nb), Thakur 10-1-51-3, Yadav Australia’s Aaron Finch batsman, dismissing him for 10-0-45-1, Henriques 1-0-7-0. 10-0-57-1, Jadeja 10-0-62-1 (1nb). held the previous record with 63 to put the tourists under Australia Result: India won by 13 runs exactly 900 points and he re- mid-innings pressure in the M. Labuschagne b Natarajan 7 Series: Australia 2-1 mains third on the updated dead rubber. A. Finch c Dhawan b Jadeja 75 Toss: India. list, behind second-placed Ba- Kohli’s exit threw down the bar Azam of Pakistan. gauntlet to Pandya, who fin- Malan’s performance ished top-scorer with 92 off 76 India fans celebrate Hardik Pandya’s half century at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. (AFP) seven to an innocuous leg-side off Yadav which covered 100m helped England leapfrog Aus- balls with some late fireworks flick off Shardul Thakur. high into the stands in argu- tralia to take top position in with Ravindra Jadeja 66 (50), “The team needed that kind breakthrough for the Austral- promoted to open the innings “They have been close ably the biggest hit of the sea- the team rankings. who seized the momentum for of a boost. That’s needed when ians who had reduced India to in David Warner’s injury ab- back-to-back games.” Smith son and then he brought up The Yorkshire player has India, adding 76 runs in the you play a team like Australia.” 152-5 in the 32nd over. sence, played on T. Natarajan said. “A good series of cricket his half-century with another been criticised for starting last five overs. Kohli was out when a re- “I thought we fought really for seven bringing Steve Smith against a quality outfit. I think six of Natarajan. slowly but has made himself “We were put under the view instigated by wicket- well,” said Australia captain early to the crease after centu- this wicket did more with the Bumrah ended Maxwell’s an integral member of Eoin pump in the first half and in keeper Alex Carey picked up a Aaron Finch, who topscored for ry-plus opening stands in the new ball, it was a bit different fireworks to India’s great relief Morgan’s star-studded side. the second half of Australia’s faint spike on ‘Ultra-Edge’ off his team with 75 off 82 balls. first two games. as compared to Sydney.” with one of his trademark yor- He has played 19 T20 in- innings,” Kohli said. Hazlewood which reversed the “It was a great partnership India got the vital break- Alex Carey was run out by kers, bowling the Australian ternationals and averages an “I would have liked to go on-field decision. between Hardik and Jadeja. If through in the 12th over dis- Kohli for 38, ending a produc- dangerman and leaving the impressive 53 runs per innings on for a bit longer, but it was It was Hazlewood’s third we got one of those wickets, we missing Smith, coming off tive partnership with Maxwell. home side tantalisingly close at a strike rate of nearly 150 a great partnership between dismissal of Kohli in the three- could have chased 240 max.” man-of-the-match centuries Maxwell produced a pro- to victory before India held on runs per 100 balls. Pandya and Jadeja. match series and a massive Marnus Labuschagne, in the first two games, for just digious reverse sweep for six for a tense win.

English cricket teas back ‘Chilled’ West Indies ready to put Test on the menu after re-vote AFP a “disgraceful decision”. heat on New Zealand in Hamilton London The league, based in the south of England, decided that AFP “It’s being able to remove Cricket teas are back on the a re-run was the fairest option Hamilton that to a certain extent and fo- menu for village clubs after a given the closeness of the first cus on what it is that gives you vote to scrap the mid-innings result. And in a statement on the The West Indies relished the the best chance to play com- feast was overturned by players league’s website on Wednesday, freedom to be out-and-about petitive, and your best, Test hungry to hang onto the quin- chairman Gary Stanley gave tra- in Covid-free New Zealand on cricket rather than getting tessentially English tradition. ditionalists the news they had the eve of the first Test inH am- ahead of yourself and thinking The Sussex Cricket League been waiting for. ilton on Wednesday, but said about where you might end up voted late last week to discard “I can now confirm to you the pressure was on to be fully on ladders.” the compulsory provision of that, following the re-vote, the focused once the match starts. Neither side was prepared meals, meaning sandwiches, proposal to remove the obliga- It has been months since to name their starting 11 before sausage rolls and cakes were off tion of the home club to provide either side played red-ball seeing the state of the pitch on the menu. teas in the 2021 season has been cricket, leaving the poten- Thursday morning, but Wil- The decision of the league, defeated,” he said. tial for rust with New Zea- liamson confirmed wicketkeep- which describes itself as the big- “For the avoidance of doubt, land’s last Test against India er BJ Watling would not play gest in the world with 140 clubs the rules around teas are there- in February. The West Indies because of a hamstring strain. and 335 teams, created a stir. fore unchanged from current have played only three Tests, He has been replaced by Some clubs said they were rules. This is of course subject against England in July. Will Young who will open the still prepared to provide teas to any restrictions that may be West Indies skipper Jason batting in his long-awaited and former England Test cap- imposed due to Covid, which we Holder said his Test squad for Test debut with incumbent tain Michael Vaughan labelled it hope will not be the case.” Thursday’s opening match opener Tom Blundell moving bore little resemblance to the down the order to take over Twenty20 side whipped 2-0 by the keeping duties. New Zealand in the past week, West Indies players during their final training session at Seddon Park in Hamilton ahead of their first Test The unlucky Young was Quick read and was much improved on against New Zealand from Thursday. (Pic: Windies Cricket) named to make his debut the side crushed by 240 runs against Bangladesh last year Eighth Covid case hits Pak cricketers in NZ when they last played the The tourists have revelled “It’s refreshing. I got a against Pakistan. before the Test was called off Wellington: An eighth member of Pakistan’s cricket squad has longest format in Hamilton in finally being able to escape chance to play some golf, I got But captain Kane William- following the Christchurch tested positive for COVID-19 as the team undergoes quarantine in three years ago. the bubble life that has con- a chance to sit in a restaurant son he was not looking that mosque attacks. Christchurch, New Zealand health authorities said on Wednesday. The “We’ve had some good suc- fined many of them for most which I haven’t done for four far ahead as he wrestled with Three months later he health department said there was one new confirmed case among cess from then till now so I think of the past five months as they or five months, so I’m a bit getting back into Test mode missed out on the World Cup the squad and a further two members were being investigated, adding the point for us is to just con- played in England and then chilled and relaxed.” after a diet in recent months of squad after suffering a shoulder to the seven who previously tested positive over the past week. The tinue to build as a side,” Holder Dubai, which hosted the IPL Twenty20 cricket. injury during training camp. department said the team would not be allowed to train together until said as the West Indies trained because of the pandemic. Unlucky Young to debut “You try and go back to Both teams confirmed on doctors were confident it would not lead to more coronavirus cases. Tuesday about 15 metres from a “It’s like a kid running New Zealand have a past experiences and narrow the eve of the Test they would Two of the original six cases last week were subsequently found to be very green Test wicket. into a playground for the first chance to play their way into things down with your game. continue to take the knee in historical, meaning they were not infectious, while the other four were “We’ve got our plans, and time,” Holder said as he de- the final of the World Test Obviously, the red-ball game support of the Black Lives active. The 53-member tour party, led by skipper Babar Azam, arrived it’s just that we have to exe- scribed being able to get out in Championship if they sweep is quite different to the white- Matter movement, as they did in Christchurch on November 24 for two weeks of quarantine which is cute. Where we’ve fallen down New Zealand and play cricket the two Tests against the West ball format and no doubt it has before the start of the Twen- mandatory for all overseas arrivals in New Zealand. (AFP) in the past is execution.” before large crowds. Indies and the following two its challenges,” he said. ty20 matches in the past week.