26 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, May 16, 2019 Dumoulin toughs out Giro d’Italia despite knee injury UCI suspends four for potential anti-doping breach

FRASCATI: Former Giro d’Italia winner Tom and Croatian Kristijan Durasek of UAE Team Emirates Dumoulin confirmed yesterday he will continue this as well as former riders Alessandro Petacchi and Borut year’s race despite an knee injury picked up in a fall Bozic have been notified of potential Anti-Doping on the fourth stage. Rules Violations (ADRV) as part of the ‘Operation “Knee still hurts but we hope it will get better Aderlass’ investigation. through the day. Will give everything I have to make it. Koren is competing at the Giro d’Italia and will not Fingers crossed,” the Dutch rider, winner of the three- be allowed to start yesterday’s stage according to the week race around Italy in 2017, wrote on Twitter. regulations. Italian Pettachi, 45, retired in 2015, while The fifth stage, a short 140km run from Frascati, just 38-year-old Slovenian Bozic ended his cycling career south of Rome, to Terracina, will be mostly raced under last year and is now Assistant Sports Director at Team the rain, with a 1.5km home straight which should set Bahrain Merida. the scene for a spectacular sprint finish. The four are under investigation for employing pro- “He (Dumoulin) has been cleared to race by the hibited doping methods between 2012 and 2017. “The team’s medical staff, but is still suffering with his knee,” UCI and the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF)... his Sunweb team said. “He will give it his best shot and have been in close contact with the sport and state see what the day brings.” authorities involved in the Aderlass investigation, in Dumoulin came second at both the Giro d’Italia particular with the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Tour de France in 2018, as well as winning the (WADA) and the Austrian law enforcement authorities,” 2017 Giro and the 2017 world championships time- UCI said in a statement. trial, making him a chief contender in all major tours Operation Aderlass is looking into blood doping, a and races. process where athletes have blood transfusions to “For sure, the overall ranking is over for me,” increase their stamina and performance-a method pro- Dumoulin said on Tuesday. The 28-year-old is now in hibited under WADA regulations. 56th position 4min 30sec behind race leader Primoz The provisional suspension begins on the day of the Roglic of Slovenia. “There is no fracture, which is good notice and a UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal will be estab- FRASCATI: Team Sunweb rider Netherlands’ Tom Dumoulin rides during stage five of the 102nd Giro d’Italia - Tour news, but my knee is very swollen,” he added. lished to hear the anti-doping rules violations. UAE of Italy - cycle race, 140kms from Frascati to Terracina. — AFP Meanwhile, four European cyclists, including two Team Emirates have suspended 31-year-old Durasek. retired riders, have been provisionally suspended for “The Team hopes that Durasek can prove he was not potential doping violations following information from involved in the affair. Should it be proven otherwise, he “The team strictly advocates zero-tolerance doping relate to the 2012 and/or 2013 seasons. The team the Austrian law enforcement authorities, the will be terminated immediately,” they said in a state- policy and has therefore provisionally suspended both always carries out thorough medical checks (including International Cycling Union (UCI) said yesterday. ment. Team Bahrain Merida have also provisionally sus- members concerned,” the Bahrain-based team said in a biological passport checks) of any new signed rider.” Slovenia’s Kristijan Koren of Team Bahrain Merida pended 32-year-old Koren and Bozic. statement. “We would like to stress that both cases — Agencies

have been rotating their side during the Kohli defends Morgan banned Pakistan series as they look at options before naming a final 15-man squad for a home World Cup starting later this leaving out Pant from fourth month. for World Cup Pakistan ODI for BUTTLER OPTION may well have rested Morgan for at least one game during NEW DELHI: India picked veteran Dinesh slow over-rate the five-match Pakistan series in order Karthik over rising talent Rishabh Pant for the to give vice-captain Jos Buttler more World Cup because of his composure under leadership experience. As it is, star : England will have to find a pressure, captain Virat Kohli said in an inter- batsman Buttler, rested at Bristol, could new captain for the fourth one-day view released yesterday. now return as captain for Friday’s match international against Pakistan on Friday The selection of the 33-year-old Karthik in at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge. after skipper Eoin Morgan was banned the 15-member squad was sharply criticised Buttler has captained England in five from the match by the International by some former cricketers who felt the 21- ODIs and four Twenty20 matches, while year-old Pant should have been given a Council for a slow over-rate Test skipper Joe Root is also a mainstay chance. Since making his debut in 2018, Pant offence. of England’s one-day team. Morgan’s has impressed with his batting, including a Morgan was sanctioned after World cumulative punishment will not roll over maiden Test century in England. Virat Kohli Cup hosts and favourites England took He scored 488 runs from 16 matches in the into the World Cup, with an ICC around four hours to bowl their 50 spokeswoman telling AFP that all play- just-finished Indian Premier League, while overs in a six-wicket win over Pakistan Karthik made 253 runs from 14 games. Both immensely valuable behind the wickets. As a ered about the constant attention he gets as a ers taking part would start the tourna- in the third ODI at Bristol on Tuesday. ment with a “clean slate”. players are vying for the reserve wicketkeep- finisher, he’s done well. batsman and captain. “I don’t want to be the He was also fined 40 percent of his er slot behind former skipper Mahendra “So, it was the overall exposure to a tour- centre of everything. Nobody wants that. But also found himself match fee and his players 20 percent of censured by former West Indies captain Singh Dhoni. nament of this magnitude that was taken into when your intent is to make the team win, theirs after match referee Richie primary consideration,” said Kohli. After eventually you end up doing things which are Richardson as a result of events in “In pressure situations, he (Karthik) has Richardson ruled England were two shown composure. It was something that making his debut in 2004, Karthik has played always going to be seen,” said Kohli, the Bristol. The England wicket-keeper was overs short after time allowances were everybody on board was convinced about. He 91 one-day internationals while Pant has five world’s number one Test and one-day player. reprimanded for breaching level one of has the experience,” Kohli told the Times of to his name. “I would always put my body on the line for taken into consideration. the ICC’s code of conduct relating to India newspaper. “If, god forbid, something Kohli, who will be leading India for the first the team.” India are chasing their third World As Morgan had previously been “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, happens to MS (Dhoni), Karthik can be time at the World Cup, said he was not both- Cup after wins in 1983 and 2011. — AFP found guilty of a minor over-rate ground equipment or fixtures and fit- offence during the Barbados ODI tings” when smashing his stumps in against the West Indies on February 22, frustration after he was bowled for a this latest incident constituted his sec- match-winning 128. Bairstow century ond minor over-rate offence within a In addition, one demerit point has 12-month period and so led to a one- been added to his disciplinary game ban. record. England are 2-0 up against sees England “The suspension means Morgan will Pakistan, with games in Nottingham miss the fourth ODI against Pakistan in and Leeds to come, after rain forced overpower Nottingham on Friday,” said an ICC the abandonment of last week’s statement issued yesterday. England opener at The Oval. — AFP Pakistan

BRISTOL: Jonny Bairstow’s commanding English cricket chiefs hundred was the centrepiece of World Cup hosts England’s six-wicket win over Pakistan admit Hundred ‘mistakes’ in the third one-day international at Bristol on Tuesday. England generally prefer batting first but captain Eoin Morgan decided to give as draft announced them experience of chasing just weeks away LONDON: English cricket bosses have insisted is essential in from the World Cup by opting to field first accepted they made mistakes in pro- attracting the next generation of crick- after winning the toss. moting “The Hundred”, their controver- et supporters. Bairstow’s 128 in a score of 359 for four- sial new short-form tournament that is According to their research, just five England’s second highest winning total bat- due to start next year. The England and percent of British children aged six to 15 ting second in an ODI-helped put the home BRISTOL: England’s Jonny Bairstow plays a shot during the third (ODI) Wales Cricket Board faced huge public list cricket in their top two favourite side 2-0 up with two to play in a five-match cricket match between England and Pakistan at The Bristol County Ground in Bristol. —AFP criticism for suggesting the 100-balls- sports. “We have the ability to extend series. Test captain Joe Root made 43 as per-side competition was aimed at our fanbase into young families, diverse Pakistan became increasingly ragged in the attracting a new audience as opposed to communities and young people to give field, England winning with 31 balls-or more ing over the ropes. hundred off 74 balls, including 12 fours and existing fans. them an experience they potentially than five overs-to spare. was 46 “I was really pleased with that hundred,” three sixes. He eventually fell when he bot- not out, with Morgan unbeaten on 17. Bairstow told Sky Sports. “Coming back into tom-edged a pull off Junaid Khan into his Questions have also been raised haven’t felt through the current offer- The only downside for Morgan on Tuesday English conditions after playing in the IPL stumps, with England well on their way at 234 about whether there is a need for anoth- ings,” said Harrison. was that he risked being suspended for a slow (Indian Premier League) was a big change for two in the 29th over. er short-form event in an already con- In 2005, the ECB controversially over-rate-England took four hours to bowl 50 and it’s nice to hit the ground running.” Earlier, Chris Woakes bolstered his gested calendar, given the success of abandoned terrestrial television cover- overs. Earlier, Imam-ul-Haq’s excellent career- Morgan added: “Roy and Bairstow were chances of being included in England’s final Twenty20 matches and the new compe- age of international best 151 saw Pakistan to 358 for nine. absolutely outstanding and really did set the 15-man World Cup squad with four wickets tition’s potential impact on English following that year’s Ashes series. But That left England with a seemingly chal- platform.” Meanwhile Pakistan captain for 67 runs in a maximum 10 overs. The cricket’s existing 18 first-class counties. 11 Hundred matches will be broadcast lenging target, particularly as they had rest- Sarfraz Ahmed took some consolation from Warwickshire paceman reduced Pakistan to On Wednesday, the ECB confirmed free to air on the BBC, with satellite ed Jos Buttler following his match-winning his side’s batting display. 27 for two, a full-length ball having Fakhar that a televised player draft for The channel Sky screening all the games in 110 not out in the second ODI at “The way we put runs on the board, I was Zaman - fresh from a hundred at Hundred would be held on October 20, the tournament. Southampton on Saturday. very confident,” he said. “But the bowling Southampton-edging to Root at second slip ahead of the inaugural competition, England director of cricket Ashley wasn’t quite up to the mark.” Roy set the tone before a sharp off-cutter bowled Babar Azam. starting in July 2020. Yet more than two Giles likened the hostility to The OPENERS RUN RIOT for England’s reply with a huge straight six off But left-handed opener Imam went to his years on from when county bosses first Hundred to concerns surrounding the But Bairstow and opening partner Jason Afridi and flat-batted medium-pacer Faheem sixth hundred in 27 ODIs-and first against discussed the eight-team city-based advent of Twenty20. “When I was a Roy, who made 76 after Shaheen Shah Afridi Ashraf’s first ball straight back over the England-off 97 balls. The 23-year-old concept, the ECB has still to confirm player back in 2003 and Twenty20 dropped an easy chance to catch him at mid- bowler’s head for another. nephew of Pakistan great and selection chief team names and venues for the five- came in, we hated it,” the former off on 21, shared a blistering stand of 159 He eventually sliced Faheem to Asif Ali at Inzamam-ul-Haq, upped his tempo by driving week event. England spinner recalled. inside 18 overs. The pair took advantage of a cover-point, having hit eight fours and four left-arm quick David Willey for six. “We’ve definitely made mistakes in “To the point where my side good pitch, short boundaries, fast outfield sixes. Bairstow, dropped on 86 when Faheem Imam surpassed his previous ODI best of the build-up, but this is about the Warwickshire were in the first finals day, and an inexperienced Pakistan attack- could not hold a tough caught and bowled 128 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo last year future of the game. This is about grow- and I didn’t go and play in it because it Mohammad Amir was again ruled out with chance off a fierce drive, was severe on any- before he was bowled, giving himself room, ing cricket,” said ECB chief executive was seen as some sort of sideshow. It chicken pox-to repeatedly send the ball soar- thing short and nwent to his seventh ODI by Curran. — AFP Tom Harrison. The ECB have long certainly isn’t that now.” — AFP