THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 SPORTS Bennett helps Kiwis restrain Bangladesh

DUBLIN: New Zealand restricted Mortaza, who had been suspended for included just five boundaries. Despite in his second ODI, had figures of 0-66 in host Afghanistan for three Twenty20 Bangladesh to 257 for nine in the third the Ireland game last Friday, returning the short boundaries at the compact his nine overs. and as many one-day internationals game of the Tri-Series in Ireland despite in place of Taskin Ahmed. Clontarf ground, Bangladesh struggled between June 2-14. India will be three batsmen making half centuries The Tigers enjoyed a bright start with to find them with Mahmudullah the INDIA CONFIRM WINDIES TOUR defending their title at the Champions yesterday. Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Tamim Iqbal and Sarkar putting on 72 for most successful, hitting six in his 51 In other news, India will embark on a Trophy, the final of which is scheduled Rahim and Mahmuduallah all reached 50 the first wicket but they had lost two while Mushfiqur hit the only six of the limited-overs tour of West Indies next on June 18. “We are all looking forward but none could go on and Sarkar ended wickets by the first drinks break with innings in his 55. month, soon after the Champions to hosting the Indian Cricket Team so up as the top scorer with 61. Tamin caught on the cover boundary for Mosaddek Hossain picked up the Trophy, their cricket boards have soon after Afghanistan’s inaugural tour Hamish Bennett, the one change in 23 and eight balls later, Sabbir Rahman pace in the closing stages with a run-a- announced. Beginning on June 23 at the of the Caribbean,” West Indies Cricket the Black Caps line-up which beat was bowled by Mitchell Santner, the ball 41 (four fours) but it was New Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, India Board chief executive Johnny Grave Ireland in their first match on Sunday- Black Caps five-wicket man of the match Zealand-three places higher than will play five one-day games which will said in a statement. “The five-match he replaced Scott Kuggeleijn-was on Sunday. Bangladesh in the rankings-who will be be followed by a Twenty20 International ODI series gives our young side the rewarded for an economical 10-over Santner was even more economical the happier at the break. Despite having at Jamaica’s Sabina Park on July 9. opportunity of playing one of the spell with two wickets in the last over to yesterday, conceding just 37 runs, but 10 players away at the Indian Premier West Indies failed to make the cut world’s best 50-over sides, and we hope finish with three for 30. Bangladesh also that was his only wicket and it was Ish League, they continue to look an impres- for Champions Trophy in England and for a competitive series as we strive for had to had make one change to their Sodhi who upstaged him with two for sive outfit although Jimmy Neesham’s Wales which features only top eight automatic qualification for the 2019 first line-up with captain Mashrafe 40, ending Sarkar’s 67-ball innings which two wickets cost 68 runs and Seth Rance one-day teams. They will subsequently Cricket World Cup.” —Agencies All Blacks to play Japan to boost World Cup interest

TOKYO: The All Blacks will travel to Japan match less than one year out from Japan next year to play the 2019 Rugby World hosting Rugby World Cup 2019,” Okamura Cup hosts in a test match aimed at boost- said in a statement. “Matches don’t come ing interest in the tournament. Steve much bigger than against the current Hansen’s side will meet the Brave Blossoms world champions. In many ways it will be a at a yet-to-be-decided venue on Nov. 3 curtain-raiser to the tournament in 2019.” before heading to Europe for their end of The two sides have met five times season tour, the world champions said in a before, although the first two games in statement. New Zealand Prime Minister Bill Japan in 1987 were not accorded test sta- English said that the test would help boost tus. Their first official test was at the 1995 the profile of the World Cup, which will be Rugby World Cup in South Africa where the held in Asia for the first time in 2019. All Blacks won 145-17. They also met in the “This will be a fantastic opportunity for 2011 tournament in New Zealand, where promotion of the World Cup here in Japan,” the All Blacks won 83-7, before they record- English told reporters in Tokyo during a vis- ed a 54-6 victory in Tokyo in 2013. The it as head of a trade delegation. Japan Brave Blossoms have improved markedly coach Jamie Joseph said his side would since then and recorded the biggest upset stick to their own style against the All in World Cup history when they beat two- Blacks. The 2019 hosts have been drawn times champions South Africa 34-32 in alongside Ireland and Scotland for the pool their opening match of the 2015 tourna- stage. “We can’t play the same way as the ment in England. All Blacks or the Wallabies or the Irish, we New Zealand coach Hansen said the have to play our own brand of rugby that is Japan game would help with their prepara- going to be successful when it comes tions for the global showpiece. “The match down to World Cup,” he added. against the Brave Blossoms will be an Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) important part of our preparation towards President Tadashi Okamura added that the 2019,” Hansen said in a statement. “It’ll give match was a perfect appetiser for the first our team the chance to experience the World Cup in Asia. “It is a great pleasure to unique environment and culture we will welcome the All Blacks back to Japan for a return to the following year.” —Reuters

ROME: Russia’s Maria Sharapova leaves the court during her match against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia at the Rome ATP Tennis Open tour- Nadal extends winning streak nament on May 16, 2017 at the Foro Italico. —AFP to 16, Murray puzzled at exit Sharapova vows to ‘rise again’ ROME: Rafael Nadal hardly had to get his two tournaments. She hasn’t won a title socks dirty to extend his winning streak to this year but was able to move up in the 16 matches. Back to being the best player rankings with Serena Williams pregnant after snub from French Open on tour over the last month, Nadal and taking the rest of the year off. Also, sec- advanced from his opening match at the ond-seeded Karolina Pliskova defeated PARIS: Maria Sharapova vowed to “rise up again” there is nothing for a return from a doping ban,” cized her return. Last month former Italian Open yesterday when Nicolas Lauren Davis of the United States 6-1, 6-1, yesterday after she was refused a wildcard for he added. “I know the media dimension of Maria Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard blasted Almagro retired in the first set with an and sixth-seeded Simona Halep beat Laura the French Open following her 15-month ban for and I’m measuring the expectations of the pub- Sharapova as a “cheater” and suggested she apparent injury. Siegemund of Germany 6-4, 6-4. Eighth- doping. The Russian former world number one lic and sponsors, but in all conscience it didn’t should be kicked out of tennis for life. The Top-ranked Angelique Kerber, mean- seeded Elina Svitolina eliminated Alize also earned the backing of the head of women’s appear possible to me to go beyond the strict absence of Sharapova and Williams, a three- while, lost her opening match at the Foro Cornet of France 6-4, 7-6 (11), and 15th- tennis, a day after the French tennis federation’s application of the world anti-doping code.” time champion in Paris, leaves the women’s Italico to Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit seeded Kiki Bertens beat American qualifier announcement that it would not grant her a Some of Sharapova’s rivals have openly criti- French Open field wide open.— AFP 6-4, 6-0.Kerber joined Andy Murray, the CiCi Bellis 6-4, 6-0. wildcard for the event she won in 2012 and top-ranked men’s player, on the sidelines 2014. “If this is what it takes to rise up again, after Murray’s loss to Fabio Fognini on MURRAY PUZZLED then I am in it all the way, everyday,” Sharapova Tuesday. “Everybody knows I’m not a clay- World number one Andy Murray is wrote on Twitter, in her first remarks on her China’s Lin Dan demands court specialist,” Kerber said. “I was not unsure what caused his recent slump after snub. “No words, games, or actions will ever stop playing good last year as well. I had a great his Italian Open title defense ended with a me from reaching my own dreams. And I have unpaid salary from club year, but I mean, these few weeks I was not 6-2 6-4 defeat by home favorite Fabio many.” The five-time Grand Slam champion, 30, playing good. And this year it’s the same.” Fognini in the second round. Murray had was banned for two years for using meldonium, SHANGHAI: Chinese badminton superstar Please don’t let our sweat go to waste.” Also, Olympic silver medalist Juan his most successful season on clay last year, with the penalty later reduced by the Court of Martin del Potro defeated British player winning one out of three finals, but has Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled she was Lin Dan, a two-time Olympic champion, Another six of the club’s players all Kyle Edmund 7-5, 6-4. Nadal was leading 3- seen his fortunes on the surface reverse not an intentional doper. has accused his super league club of fail- posted the same statement on their Weibo 0, 15-30 when Almagro bent over toward with the loss to Fognini marking three ing to pay him and six others for the 2016- accounts. Guangzhou Yueyu were ranked the red clay court and grasped his left knee. unsuccessful clay tournaments in a row. “I RIVALS HIT OUT 2017 season. Regarded by some as bad- seventh in the eight-team super league’s Nadal went over to Almagro’s side of the wasn’t creating enough chances on my After the ban expired on April 26 she minton’s greatest ever player, Lin said he 2016-2017 season, down from fifth in the net to ask what was wrong and consoled own,” Murray was quoted by the ATP web- returned to competition at the Stuttgart Open, felt “bitterly disappointed” and threatened previous season. Lin Dan’s wages for the his countryman. Almagro then got some site. “Normally during matches your oppo- reaching the semi-finals, and progressed to the to take legal action after not getting paid season, which ended in February, were medical attention at his chair but quickly nent might give you a few opportunities last 32 of the Madrid Open, failing to earn a by Guangzhou Yueyu badminton club. Lin four million yuan ($583,000), the state-run retired from the second-round match. with some errors, and obviously you hope qualifying spot for Roland Garros, the second said the players worked the whole season Guangzhou Daily reported. According to “It’s difficult to see what’s going on now to create a few yourself. That certainly was- Grand Slam of the season and which starts later to keep the club, which signed him last the newspaper, team chairman Gao Jun, just after what happened,” Nadal said. “He n’t the case today. The only chance I really this month. Many of Sharapova’s rivals have hit year, from being relegated despite not who is also the head coach, said the club felt something on the knee.” The fourth- got was when he was making errors.” out at other tournaments giving her preferential getting their wages. has also failed to pay the coaching team ranked Nadal remained on court for a prac- Murray has won one out of seven tour- treatment, but WTA chief executive Steve Simon tice session. Nadal has won consecutive naments this season, exiting in the Round “Our understanding towards the club and the rest of the Chinese players. called the actions of the French federation (FFT) has been met with repeated delay,” the 33- Gao said the club has turned its clay-court tournaments in Monte Carlo, of 16 or earlier in four of those. He was “groundless”, in a strongly worded statement Barcelona and Madrid. He’s aiming for an year-old wrote to his 3.6 million followers operation rights to a separate firm run eliminated in the semi-finals at the backing her. eighth title at the Foro Italico as he pre- on the Twitter-like Weibo microblogging by the club’s manager Fu Xun. “It’s not Barcelona Open and his only title win was Whilst acknowledging that wildcards were pares for the French Open, which starts in website. “We have communicated with the very good that we didn’t give (salaries) at the Dubai Open in March. The 30-year- granted at a tournament’s discretion, Simon less than two weeks. Nadal will next face club many times about salary payment; for so long. But we are not avoiding this old was particularly unhappy with his said: “What I do not agree with is the basis put either 13th-seeded Jack Sock or Jiri Vesely however, the club’s attitude in solving this problem either,” news portal Tencent movement on the court. “Movement the forward by the FFT for their decision with of the Czech Republic. The 73rd-ranked has made people helpless and disappoint- sports quoted Fu Xun as saying. The last two weeks has not been good,” Murray respect to Maria Sharapova.” Announcing the Almagro had come through qualifying. said. “My movement has been a big help, FFT’s decision on Tuesday, President Bernard ed. “We did not hold anything back when club could not immediately be reached Also, seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori beat the last couple of years, but certainly the Giudicelli said giving Sharapova a wildcard we were fighting for the club’s honour. for comment. — AFP David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2 and will next face del last couple of weeks, that’s been a prob- would make a nonsense of tennis authorities’ Potro. Nishikori showed no lingering pain lem. So I need to address that.” The Briton ramped-up efforts against doping. But Simon from the right wrist injury that prompted also said his number one ranking had him to withdraw from the quarterfinals in said: “She has complied with the sanction nothing to do with his performances. “I’m imposed by CAS. The tennis anti-doping pro- Madrid last week. “My wrist is OK now. I just not playing well and I don’t think it’s to assume to be 100 percent now,” Nishikori gram (TADP) is a uniform effort supported by do with my ranking,” Murray added. Next the Grand Slams, WTA, ITF and ATP. said. Kerber returned to No 1 this week up for Murray is the French Open that despite getting eliminated early in her past “There are no grounds for any member of the starts next week. — Agencies TADP to penalize any player beyond the sanc- tions set forth in the final decisions resolving these matters.” Sharapova is guaranteed a quali- fying spot at Wimbledon in July after winning her opening match at the ongoing Rome Masters, although she missed a chance at direct entrance into the main draw after a second- round exit on Tuesday. Sharapova, whose ranking has plummeted to 211 leaving her reliant on wildcards, could have earned her spot at Wimbledon by reaching the semi-finals in Italy but retired against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the final set with a thigh injury. The Russian issued a statement afterwards that failed to address the French Open and said merely that she hoped her injury “is not serious”.

NO SERENA, NO SHARAPOVA The FFT’s announcement was eagerly antici- pated and Giudicelli spoke on Facebook Live, adding an extra sense of drama. “Nobody can deprive her of her two titles at Roland Garros, but today I can’t grant her the wildcard request- ed,” he said, ahead of the May 28-June 11 tourna- ment that will also be missing its other major name-the pregnant Serena Williams. ROME: Italy’s Fabio Fognini celebrates after winning his match against Britain’s Andy “The titles won here, she won within the rules COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews (C) takes a selfie with members of the Murray during their Rome ATP Tennis Open tournament match on May 16, 2017 at without owing anything to anyone. “While wild- Sri Lankan cricket team in Colombo yesterday ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy the Foro Italico.— AFP cards exist for players returning from injury, Tournament against England. —AFP