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Home , Arafat Sunny, Nic Pothas, Ravi Shastri, Shahadat Hossain

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 SPORTS

Bangladesh vows crackdown on player scandals

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s cricket board domestic match, denied the allegations. get everything in order, otherwise we’ll intimate photos of his girlfriend on Tamim appeared in Sunday’s seven- vowed tough action yesterday against “The allegation of torture is not true. be compelled to take tough action in social media. loss to Kent but on Tuesday Essex any players accused of misconduct or Somebody is provoking her to raise future.” Shahid is the fourth Bangladeshi The 30-year-old cricketer was released a statement saying his stay was bringing the game into disrepute amid complaint against me,” Shahid told AFP. cricketer embroiled in a personal scan- released on bail in March after he told . “Essex Club can a slew of high-profile scandals involving BCB president Nazmul Hasan said it dal in recent years. the court that the girlfriend was, in fact, confirm that overseas player Tamim top stars. The warning from the cricket was difficult to monitor every aspect of Pace bowler was his second wife. Iqbal has left the club with immediate board came as the wife of fast bowler players’ lives but warned of repercus- detained in 2015 after an actress claim- Meanwhile, Bangladesh opening effect due to personal reasons,” the Mohammad Shahid filed a complaint sions if they didn’t get their act togeth- ing to be his fiancee accused him of batsman has left English statement read. against her husband, accusing him of er. “We have tried a lot to control them rape. The charges were later withdrawn. county Essex after just one match for “We wish him all the best, and it torturing her. Farzana Akther told the when they are with the squad. We’ve Another pacer Shahadat Hossain spent personal reasons the club revealed yes- would be appreciated if Tamim’s privacy at the week- become tougher when they stay in nearly two months in custody last year terday. is respected during this time.” Tamim end that her 28-year-old husband had hotels under our care,” he told reporters. after he and his wife were arrested on The 28-year-old-Bangladesh’s highest starred with the bat for Bangladesh in hidden his marital status from other “The problems start when they leave charges of torturing an 11-year-old girl international scorer with more than the recent Champions Trophy scoring a women and tortured her after she inter- (the hotel). We cannot monitor their they employed as a maid. A court later 10,000 to his name in all forms of the splendid century against England, vened, an official at the board said. personal issues. acquitted the couple. Left arm spinner game-signed only last week for an eight falling five short of another century Shahid, who is undergoing treatment “We have taken action against similar Arafat Sunny was arrested in January game stint in the T20 Blast county com- against Australia and hitting 70 in the for a knee injury sustained during a incidents in the past. We want (them) to and taken into custody after posting petition. semi-final against . — AFP take flak after ‘disgraceful’ cricket defeat

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s cricketers faced a Zimbabwe without a coach after Graham barrage of criticism yesterday a day after Ford quit on the eve of the tournament, just their series loss to bottom-ranked halfway through his 45-month contract. Zimbabwe in what is being described as Sri Lanka’s cricket board elevated field- a new low for the beleaguered side. ing coach Nic Pothas for the series while Zimbabwe notched their first win abroad they searched for a replacement for Ford. in eight years after claiming the one-day “You can’t expect Pothas to perform mira- international series against Sri Lanka 3-2, cles,” said a senior cricket official, asking not embarrassing a home side that has to be named. struggled with fitness, losses and coach- “There were several factors that con- ing upheaval. “Sri Lankan cricket has tributed to the (latest) humiliation.” A lack reached its lowest point and it could well of preparation and poor selection decisions be the point of no return. Now that the compounded problems for the home side, 11th ranked Zimbabwe have beaten who appeared to underestimate the them, we wonder what excuse is in tourists, the official added. Zimbabwe rank store,” declared local newspaper Island. just one place above cricket minnows “Disgrace” read a headline in the local Ireland and have not won abroad since a Daily Mirror, while another newspaper victory in Kenya in 2009. said Sri Lanka’s cricket was “in the dol- Skipper Angelo Mathews conceded the drums”. Their defeat came hot on the shock defeat was a low point in his 187- heels of their early exit from the match ODI career. “This is a hard pill to Champions Trophy and a drubbing by swallow. I don’t want to give any excuses... Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, who They played better cricket,” Mathews told accused the national side of being over- the Island. weight and unfit to compete on the world He said he will discuss his future with stage. Players were given three months to selectors but had not made any decisions. get in shape or face the boot. The side Sri Lanka faces Zimbabwe in a Test match began the five-match series against in Colombo on Friday.— AFP

RUGBY LONDON: England’s Moeen Ali, third left, leads England off the field carrying the ball and a stump following his 10-wicket haul with Joe Root, second left, also carrying a stump at the end of the first Test between England and South Africa at Lord’s cricket ground in London, Maroons bank on Storm Sunday. — AP ‘spine’ to win decider CRICKET

BRISBANE: Holders Queensland will rely year, Bill’s a bit different,” Smith said. on the Storm ‘spine’ to give “I think he’s very keen to play on, it’s England’s 10-wicket Ali the Maroons victory in today’s State of just whether he feels his body’s up to it. “I Origin rugby league series decider try to take the emotion out of it. It’s against New South Wales in Brisbane. probably one of the biggest games we Queensland have won 10 of the last have been involved in, but we have to a ‘batter who bowls’ 11 fiercely-fought interstate series and get a job done,” he added. After amass- must do without injured mercurial Test ing a record 41 Origins - including 17 as pivot Johnathan Thurston and Test back skipper - Smith said this year’s title would LONDON: Moeen Ali may have taken 10 proven run-scoring ability was exemplified by the best he’s taken since I’ve been here in the Darius Boyd to clinch another one. be his most enjoyable. in England’s first Test win over South Africa at his excellent legside catch to dismiss Heino last three summers,” said Bayliss. “So that will Thurston landed a pressure sideline “It’d be the most satisfying, no doubt Lord’s, but the best way for him to continue to Kuhn on Sunday. “That first catch was probably give him a lot of confidence.” —AFP conversion to crown a magnificent 18-16 about that given the injuries we’ve had be successful as a bowler is to think of himself as comeback victory over the Blues last and the personnel that are unavailable,” a batsman. That was the somewhat convoluted month to keep the series alive, but after- he said. position outlined by England coach Trevor wards was ruled out for the rest of the The Blues are bidding to clinch their Bayliss, who stressed neither he nor the all- Shastri hot favourite season with a shoulder injury. The first Origin series since 2014 after deci- rounder himself were thinking of the Maroons have named debutant Cameron sively winning the opening game 28-4 in Worcestershire man as a frontline spinner. Ali starred with both bat and ball as England Munster as Thurston’s replacement at Brisbane. Laurie Daley is in line to to be new India coach launched Joe Root’s reign as captain with a com- stand-off, implanting the steely become only the second NSW coach manding 211-run victory in the series opener NEW DELHI: Former skipper Ravi Shastri 15 members of the team are unanimous on Melbourne Storm club ‘spine’ into the after Phil Gould to claim more than one against the Proteas, the win achieved with more Queensland starting line-up. series triumph for NSW. than a day to spare. has emerged as the front-runner to be the this. It’s not even 14-1,” the daily reported, Queensland will have skipper Daley has named an unchanged side, During the match, Ali became the second- new coach of India, but a final decision citing an unnamed member of the Indian Cameron Smith at hooker along with his although skipper and back-rower Boyd quickest England player after Tony Greig to com- remains on hold until captain cricket team. Ganguly told reporters that fellow Storm teammates Cooper Cronk at Cordner is battling a calf injury to be plete the all-rounder’s double of 2,000 runs and has been consulted. Shastri, 55, was Kohli would be briefed on the develop- scrum-half, Munster at stand-off and Billy ready in time for the match. 100 wickets in . His match figures of among five high-profile candidates inter- ments once the team returned from their Slater at fullback along with Will 10 for 112 allied to a first-innings 87 also helped viewed on Monday for the post left vacant limited-overs tour of the West Indies. “Sri Chambers in the centres. “He’s playing Teams (1-17) him move above England team-mate Ben Stokes by ex-Test captain , who Lanka tour is in a week’s time, the board with them every week these guys and Queensland: Billy Slater; Valentine into fourth place in the International Cricket resigned amid difficulties over his relation- headed by (secretary) Amitabh Choudhary understands their game,” Maroons coach Holmes, Will Chambers, Michael Morgan, Council’s list of leading Test all-rounders. ship with Kohli which he described as and (chief executive) Rahul Johri will prob- Kevin Walters said after selecting Dane Gagai; Cameron Munster, Cooper And yet Bayliss believes it will help “complex “untenable”. ably continue with the same set for the Munster at No.6. Cronk; Dylan Napa, Cameron Smith character” Ali if left-armer Liam Dawson is An advisory committee of Sachin time being,” said Ganguly. “Obviously the spine is a big part of (capt), Jarrod Wallace; Gavin Cooper, regarded as England’s leading spinner should Tendulkar, and VVS “We want to speak to Virat Kohli once he what we do and certainly Cameron, Matt Gillett; Josh McGuire. Interchange: they retain the same side for Friday’s second Test Laxman has been tasked with selecting the is back from America, all three of us along Cooper and Billy are a major part of that.” Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Coen Hess, Tim of a four-match series at Nottingham’s Trent new coach to head the world’s number- with the respective people concerned. “We Smith, Cronk and Slater play an influen- Glasby. Bridge. “We’ll stick with one spinner and one bat- one ranked Test team. The cricketing greats will explain to him that the coaches want tial role in the Queensland team, with NSW: James Tedesco; Brett Morris, ter that bowls a little ... and that’s important for considered presentations from Shastri, to function in a certain way and make sure their innate understanding of attacking Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Blake Mo more than anything,” said Bayliss. Of course, , Australia’s , that everybody is on the same page before England won’t care a bit how they or Ali views plays paramount to the Maroons’ Ferguson; James Maloney, Mitchell Englishman Richard Pybus and former we make the announcement.” himself if he keeps on taking wickets following India manager Lalchand Rajput. Kohli made no recommendation for chances. Pearce; Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, his Test-best six for 53 at Lord’s on Sunday that But after a gruelling round of inter- who should fill the coaching role, Ganguly Slater and Cronk are expected to Andrew Fifita; Boyd Cordner (capt), Josh was key to South Africa’s collapse to 119 all out make an announcement on their Origin Jackson; Tyson Frizell. Interchange: David in their second innings. views the committee decided there was added, which would run until the World futures after Wednesday’s crunch game. Klemmer, Wade Graham, Jake Trbojevic, “no hurry” to name the coach, and felt Cup in 2019. Shastri, who has represented “Hopefully we’ll find out after this Jack Bird. Referees: Matt Cecchin, Gerard ‘PRESSURE OFF’ Kohli should be consulted before the final India in 80 Tests and 150 one-day interna- series is done where Cooper’s at for next Sutton. —AFP “If he goes into the match as a batter and the decision was made. tionals between 1981 and 1992, originally second spinner, as we saw in this is probably Speculation has been rife that Shastri, applied when a one-year contract to coach more so for Mo’s benefit, to take a little bit of who served as India’s team director India was made available in 2016. that pressure off him,” added Australian coach between 2014 and 2016, is on friendly A decision by India’s cricket board to Bayliss. Hampshire’s Dawson bagged a pair at terms with Kohli and will therefore get the allow Shastri to interview via Skype while Lord’s, his third nought in two career Tests after nod. “All members of the Indian cricket on holiday at the time angered Ganguly, an unbeaten fifty on debut away to India last team are in favour of cricketer-turned-com- who complained publicly about the selec- year. After an uncertain start at Lord’s, his bowl- mentator Shastri taking over the role,” tion process. Shastri was then pipped to ing became more of a threat on an increasingly reported The Times of India yesterday. “All the post by Kumble. —AFP helpful pitch and he finished with match figures of four for 101. “Liam admitted himself that he was very nervous in the first innings, first Test match at home, first Test at Lord’s,” said Bayliss. “But I thought he showed the character we know he has to come back and bowl better in the second innings-and bowl in a good partnership with Mo.” The match was a triumph for Root, whose first-innings 190 put England in a strong posi- tion. “Before this Test match, he was a little more on edge than I’ve seen him before,” said Bayliss. “But he didn’t try to be something he’s not. He’s a pro-active, confident sort of a young bloke, and I thought that came across in the way he led the team.” Former captain Alastair Cook made a valuable fifty in the second innings and Bayliss said he was enjoying his return to the ranks. “He’s loving it! I was having a bit of a laugh about it, just watching him in the field. “For someone in that stage of his career, it’s a KAZAN: France’s Amelie Mugner (C) vies with Irish Lucy Mulhall (L) and Lucy Mulhall good sign.” Meanwhile Jonny Bairstow’s increas- (R) during the women’s Rugby Sevens Grand Prix Series match between France and ingly assured wicket-keeping, allied to his Ravi Shastri Ireland in Kazan on Monday. — AFP