The Business | SPOTuResdaTy , OcS tober 151, 20 19 Ganguly poised to become Indian cricket board chief

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sourav Gan - guly is poised to take over as the president of the country´s cricket board as nominations close Monday for elections to the game´s wealthiest and most power - ful body. Ganguly, 47, emerged as the only candi - date for the top post after a meeting in Mumbai on Sun - day, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source told AFP. One of the most successful national captains in the sport, Ganguly retired from Test cricket in 2008 having accumulated 7,212 runs. Last month he was re-elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. Brijesh Patel, a former India bats - man and experienced administrator, is likely to become chairman of the Indian Premier League, the board´s lucra - tive Twenty20 competition. Jay Shah, son of India´s home minister Amit Shah, is tipped for the secretary´s post. Monday is the last day for filing nominations before BCCI elections are held on October 23. Cricket´s massive popu - larity in India has helped the BCCI become the wealthiest of all of the sport´s national boards, racking in large sums of money from sponsorship and TV deals. But it has also been embroiled in legal battles and a se - ries of scandals, including accusations of corruption and match-fixing in the IPL. Ganguly told the Press Trust of India news agency Monday that his priority as president would be to polish BCCI´s image. "I am taking over at a time when BCCI has not been in greatest of position for the last three years. Its image has got hampered quite a lot. It´s a great opportunity for me to do something good," he TOKYO: Japan’s Kenki Fukuoka (C) has shown serious speed on the wing. said. "Financially, India is a cricketing powerhouse, so it will be a challenge," Ganguly added. India, the world´s number one-ranked Test team, is currently playing a home Test series against South Africa. Australian cricketer Mitch How ‘unique’ style took Brave Marsh injures bowling hand

SYDNEY: Australian Mitch Marsh was nervously Blossoms to Rugby WC quarters waiting Monday to see how badly he has hurt his bowl - TOKYO: Japan weren’t expected to tenacity that effectively shut down the ing hand after punching a reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-fi - game. It is not easy to train such combat - dressing room wall in frus - nals, but they have confounded their crit - ive cohesiveness, but Japan's veteran lock tration during a weekend ics and surprised the sport by unleashing Luke Thompson explained that every - Sheffield Shield game. The a "unique" style - a combination of high- thing had been well planned. "We have Western Australia all- speed attack and defensive tenacity. been to some dark places in preparation - rounder, who was recalled After Japan won four out of four to top pretty tough camps and that is modern to the Test side for the final Pool A, the rugby world has been awash rugby," said the 38-year-old Kiwi-born game of the Ashes against England last month, was on his with praise for the one-time whipping second-rower, who is playing his fourth way to a big score Sunday against Tasmania when he was boys, who have been forged into a formi - World Cup. caught and bowled for 53. The match ended in a draw and dable unit by their coach . "You don't go out and do that stuff by Marsh took his frustrations out on the changing room, with The ex-All Black brought together a accident, you have to earn it." Joseph said reports that he may have fractured his hand. "Western Aus - squad that features an almost equal split there was no doubt his players had bene - tralian captain Mitch Marsh injured his hand during (Sun - of native Japanese and foreign-born play - fited from exposure to Super Rugby with day´s) Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the ers who have qualified for their adopted Japan's outfit. WACA ground," said a statement from his team. Coach country through residency. "It was the tenacity, I guess, of our Langer unsure if Smith would want Australia Test captaincy It is a mix of hardened veterans along - team at crucial parts of the Test which back "Marsh sustained the injury when he struck the wall in side some serious speedsters, who have helped," he said. the changerooms following his dismissal earlier in the day. been able to produce tries out of nothing "Persistence and confidence and trust "The extent of the injury and a time frame on his return will but also dig in and defend doggedly when the plan is what saw us through. In the be determined later this week after further investigation." Western Australia´s next match is against Victoria on Friday they have to. Few would have predicted Dawson, a World Cup winner with Eng - The Japanese pace, last two or three minutes it was a Test ‘DARK PLACES’ and missing it would be setback to Marsh´s chances of fur - that Japan would go unbeaten in a pool land in 2003, wrote in his BBC column. allied with the ability of half-backs Yu match we didn't want to lose." Dawson ther impressing selectors ahead of the first Test against Pak - that also contained Six Nations giants Ire - "They play with such intensity and their Tamura and to exploit the said Japan were playing a "unique" style. istan, which gets under way in Brisbane on November 21. land and Scotland, and a potential banana ability to handle the ball at such pace shortside before changing the direction of "Not even the All Blacks play at some He was in the frame to retain his place in the side after tak - skin in Samoa. takes an incredible amount of accuracy." play, was crucial to the hosts' attacking of the speed they do," the former scrum- ing 7-86 in the fifth and final Test against England at The They underlined their qualities in Sun - Ex-Australia playmaker Matt Giteau, cur - gameplan. Such tactics, however, mean half said. Scotland coach Gregor Oval. —AFP day's 28-21 win against Scotland, when a rently playing for Suntory Sungoliath in teams tire. Japan did just that, letting Townsend predicted a "very tough game" blitz of four cracking tries was followed the Japanese Top League, added: "This is Scotland back into the game with two sec - for South Africa in the quarter-finals. Build on the World Cup by a defensive rearguard as they repelled magic from Japan! "This is so so huge for ond-half tries. But the team skippered by "Japan play a really fast game and create a Scottish fightback. "In that first half, the country & a life changing moment for the inspirational flanker quick ruck ball at the ruck and they exe - legacy, says there would have been few sides able to the players ... What an amazing night for dug deep and showed another side of their cute their set piece really well," he said. stop Japan scoring a couple of tries," Matt rugby in general!!" make-up: a mental fortitude and defensive "It will be a very close game." —AFP Archer

LONDON: English World Beach Games cricket authorities must make the most of the Inam Butt eyes thrilling World Cup tri - another Gold Mahoor Shahzad eyes Tokyo 2020 umph in July to encourage youngsters to take up the medal for Pakistan sport over the long term, after world’s top 150 ranking mile - according to England pace The Business Report struggle and I'm working extremely hard to bowling star Jofra Archer. The KARACHI: Eying another Gold represent Pakistan in Tokyo next 24-year-old Barbados-born bowler — who made an im - medal for Pakistan, country’s top KARACHI: Treasured national badminton summer." mediate impact when he became eligible to play for Eng - wrestler Inam Butt will be in action champion, Mahoor Shahzad, is now eyeing Earlier this week, the 22-year-old — who land earlier this year — showed remarkable nerve today at ANOC World Beach Games Tokyo 2020 games next year after she became has won 25 matches to date in her career — bowling the decisive Super Over in the World Cup final in Doha. Inam, 30, who was Pak - Pakistan’s first woman to be ranked among was ranked at 149 of world's top 150 bad - istan’s sole gold medallist in Com - against New Zealand. England won the trophy due to the world’s top 150 players. minton players. She recently played in Benin monwealth Games last year will countback on the amount of boundaries scored after the Mahoor spoke of her milestone and her and Ivory Coast. compete in 90kg weight categories match ended tied and the sides were level after the Super goals for the future, as well as her gratitude to She made the announcement on her Twit - with all his bouts on Monday, includ - Over. Archer said it was encouraging to see the way God for "the ability and determination to reach ter account: "With immense pleasure I in - ing the medal bouts. The country’s young people were inspired by the World Cup win to start where I am today". "I always knew there was form you all that my world ranking has most decorated wrestler of this era told playing the game, But he said authorities needed to find no shortcut to hard work and so I have worked increased to 149 Alhumdulillah, making me Geo from Doha that he’s eying an - ways to keep them interested over the long term. "I've hard enough to achieve this milestone," she the first ever female badminton player of other Gold medal for Pakistan. “I have seen many videos of kids playing, doing their celebrations said. The badminton player noted that she was Pakistan to reach 150 in the world ranking." worked really hard for this event and I in the back garden," he said. Flower ends his 12-year stay still very much driven for success and "looking Mahoor represented Pakistan in the 2018 am very hopeful of doing well here. I with England and Wales Cricket Board. "I think the ahead because it's still a long way to go".The Commonwealth Games in Australia in which request my nation to pray for me and I World Cup is going to get spoken about for many years to road to building successes, she added, was she participated in the women’s singles, will not let them down,” Inam aimed. come. "We do need to use it. I think we need to push it a why her "long-term goal is to constantly im - women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and mixed Inam’s mission in World Beach lot further. "Look at the kids. It´s wet and muddy but I prove my rank and move up the ladder". team events. She, alongside Sehra Akram Games, where he’s Pakistan’s sole don´t think they care. It makes us happy to see them play - representation, will kick off with his An alumna of the Institute of Business Ad - and Palwasha Bashir, is one of the top three ing and wanting to do better." Archer, who plays his bout against Portugal’s Adao Rafael ministration (IBA), Karachi, Mahoor explained women badminton players of Pakistan. After county cricket for Sussex, said his message to aspiring da Silva. He will then wrestle against that at the moment, she was aiming for a major achieving this honour and now determined cricketers is their success or belief in being able to suc - Goergia’s Dato Marsagishivili before milestone. She said: "I am, however, currently to play in Tokyo 2020, it seems like Mahoor ceed has to come from within. "Never give up," he said. taking on Azerbaijan’s Kanan Aliyev aiming for the holy grail - qualification for is unwavering in her goal to make a mark for "If no one believes in you, you have to believe in your - and Turkey’s Murat Ozkan. —AFP Summer Olympics 2020!! "Every day is a both herself and her country.

Gauff salutes Federer’s words of wisdom BEIJING: Coco Gauff hailed Roger Federer for his words of wis - at the end of 2018, she was 686 in the world. "I´m excited, it will be my dom as the 15-year-old US prodigy became the youngest champion last event for the year. I´m playing doubles there also on the WTA Tour since 2004. Gauff defeated 2017 Roland Garros (with regular partner Caty McNally). "This is the winner Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the Linz final for her opportunity to see how I perform at back-to- maiden title. The teenager is managed by Federer’s Team8 and even back tournaments." Gauff´s career timetable shares an Italian pasta sponsor with the 20-time major winner. She re - has suddenly shifted into overdrive, with her vealed that a pep-talk by the Swiss superstar, after she suffered a breakthrough WTA trophy coming much heartbreaking defeat in the first round of the 2018 Australian Open more quickly than might have been ex - junior event, has helped her on a path which this year saw her reach pected. "My goal was the top 100 and to get the last 16 at Wimbledon and US Open third round. into the main draw of at least one Grand "He did give me some advice at the Australian Open in 2018 when I Slam," said the player, who has now lost in the first round (after being amongst the favourites)," Gauff re - earned a main draw spot for Janu - called. "He told me not to focus too much on the pressure or the outside ary´s Australian Open. "I´ve ac - drama. He gave me some perspective. "Now, I try to enjoy the complished all of those goals this tennis and I barely think of that fist-round loss two year, now I need to work on im - years later." Gauff, meanwhile, confirmed she is proving my game. "I´ve gone "100 percent" ready to play at this week´s Luxem - through what was supposed to be bourg WTA event where she will enjoy a career- my timeline for the next two high ranking inside the top 70. Federer says fans years. It´s been crazy." "I didn´t inspired him to reach Shanghai quarters. She expect to be on the Tour in gen - started the week in Linz at 110 in the world and eral right now," the 2018 French was originally set for an early departure from Open junior champion said. Austria after losing in the qualifying rounds be - Gauff, coached by her father, fore grabbing a lifeline as a lucky loser. "For said she expects to start gaining FAISALABAD: A view of cricket match played between Southern Punjab sure, I´m 100 percent playing in Luxembourg," confidence as she gets more accus - and Northern Punjab teams during National T-20 Cricket Cup at the Iqbal Stadium. said Gauff whose rise has been meteoric — tomed to the WTA circuit. —AFP