THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016 SPORTS Silver: No decision on moving All-Star Game from Charlotte LAS VEGAS: NBA owners made no deci- lature after the 2017 All-Star Game was game, but that the clock is ticking. protections related to the workplace, ture passed the minor change related to sion Tuesday after a lengthy debate about already awarded to Charlotte. “We’re not trying to keep everybody in hotels and restaurants; and overrules local workplace lawsuits, the NBA issued a joint moving next year’s All-Star Game from He added that the game is important suspense,” he said. “We realize this decision antidiscrimination ordinances. Republican statement with the Charlotte Hornets say- Charlotte because of North Carolina’s law for the league in ways that aren’t always has to be made very quickly.” Silver’s leaders have said the law was passed in ing that it had discussed the issue “with limiting protection for LGBT people. shown on the court. “The primary test for remarks come less than two weeks after response to a Charlotte ordinance that numerous groups at the city and state lev- Commissioner Adam Silver said no vote us is under this law whether we can suc- North Carolina legislators revisited the law would have allowed transgender people to els,” but it doubted proposed changes was taken at the Board of Governors meet- cessfully host our All-Star week,” he said. “It and chose to leave it largely unchanged. use restrooms consistent with their gender would go far enough. ing, but the league realizes a decision has is more than a game, it is a week full of During their yearly work session that end- identity. Charlotte officials have said they to come fairly quickly. He said he was per- activities in North Carolina. The question ed this month, the General Assembly The fate of the law is likely to be decid- expected the event to have an economic sonally disappointed North Carolina legis- for us becomes in this situation, given the restored the ability of workers to use state ed in federal courts where dueling lawsuits impact of around $100 million, based on lators didn’t modify the law enough in controversy, given the amount of discus- law to sue employment discrimina- are being heard, though those results are data from recent All-Star games in the recent weeks to make the discussion moot. sion, given how hardened the views are, is tion on the basis of race, religion and other likely to come after the NBA has to make comparable New Orleans and Orlando “We feel this law is inconsistent with this the place we should be in 2017, at the factors - but left gender identity and sexual its decision on the All-Star Game. markets. The game could rival the $164 the core values of the league,” Silver said. epicenter of global basketball where we orientation unprotected. Elsewhere, other states have filed lawsuits million economic impact of the 2012 Silver said the NBA was put in a situation can go celebrate our game and our values.” The law passed in a March special ses- challenging federal guidelines on trans- Democratic National Convention in not entirely its own making because the Silver did not say when a decision sion also excludes sexual orientation and gender bathroom access in schools. Charlotte, the largest financial bump of law was enacted by North Carolina’s legis- would be made on possibly moving the gender identity from antidiscrimination A day before North Carolina’s legisla- any event for the city. — AP Ball to make England debut against Pakistan

LONDON: is set to make his fitness after playing for Durham as a bats- England debut against Pakistan at Lord’s man only after recent knee surgery. today after Alastair Cook confirmed But with the second Test starting at his place in the side a day before the start Lancashire swing specialist Anderson’s Old of the first Test. Trafford home ground a week on Friday, Ball was in the squad for all three Tests the selectors were wary of taking a chance without playing during England’s preced- on him at Lord’s. ing 2-0 series win (with one draw). But Ball “He’s not () quite at full pace, has now been included after James and I think the risk of going into five-day Anderson, England’s all-time leading wick- Test match with that injury, an injury that et-taker, was ruled out of the first of this not too many people have had, just had a four-Test series with a shoulder injury. bit of a doubt about it,” said Cook. “Jake will make his debut,” Cook told “I think the selectors decided that there reporters at Lord’s yesterday. are three other games, and he should be fit “Unfortunately Jimmy has missed out but for Old Trafford. “They were concerned that it’s a great opportunity for Jake,” the open- if he did have one of those stints at Lord’s, ing batsman added. on a flat , he could be bowling 30- The 25-year-old Ball has edged out fel- odd overs and we are not quite sure how low uncapped seamer Toby Roland-Jones, his shoulder will stand up to that.” who was hoping to make his Test debut on The build-up to this match has been his Middlesex home ground, from an origi- dominated by the expected return to Test nal 12-man squad. cricket of Pakistan paceman Mohammad Ball came into England contention after Amir on the ground where six years ago he a breakthrough 2015 season which saw took part in an infamous spot-fixing scan- him take 67 across all formats for dal by deliberately bowling no-balls. Nottinghamshire. He followed that up with Amir, now 24, received a five-year ban a dramatic start to the current English cam- from cricket for his part in the affair but paign, which has so far seen Ball take 37 Cook once more insisted he had no qualms LONDON: Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir (C) gestures during a training session at Lord’s cricket ground in London yesterday. England play first-class wickets at an average of just 22. about playing against the left-arm quick. Pakistan in the first Test match starting today. Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir will hope to put the 2010 spot-fixing scandal behind him once and “I’m looking forward to seeing how he “I’ve said all along I don’t think match for all when he returns to the scene of the crime in today’s first Test against England at Lord’s. — AFP goes, he’s had a great year with Notts and fixers should be allowed to play but at the looks a fine bowler,” said Cook. “He’s got time he was given his punishment, he’s wicket-taking balls in him, the ability to get served it so he’s entitled to come back. He’s Pakistan unites behind good players out on flat wickets, and he served his time,” said Cook. puts the ball in good areas with good “It’s the big story about this Test match, pace.” but I thought the way both sides played in Cook added that Ball would open the the UAE (in 2015) that the spirit between us Amir ahead of Lord’s return attack alongside his Nottinghamshire was different to in the past, and I hope we team-mate . Anderson suffered can carry that on and talk about the cricket.” KARACHI: When Pakistan’s convicted spot-fixer in March this year. though are considered to have their best chance a stress fracture to his right shoulder blade England: Alastair Cook (capt), , Mohammad Amir takes to the field at Lord’s yes- “The way he (Amir) is bowling I think he will of victory in the four-match Test series where during the Sri Lanka series. The 33-year-old , , Gary Ballance, Jonny terday, the bowler can expect overwhelming bamboozle England batsmen with his swing,” he much will rest on the ability of Amir and leg- bowled in the nets as did all-rounder Ben Bairstow (wkt), , , support from his homeland as he faces a poten- added, referring to the youngster’s slew of wick- spinner Yasir Shah. Stokes who is also nearing a return to full Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Jake Ball. — AFP tially prickly reception from the English crowd. ets against Sussex in a warm-up match where “Watching him bowl in Tests, especially in The 24-year-old appears almost certain to his fast pace and late movement won wickets England was a thing of joy so I can’t not look for- make his return to at the home of and praise. Zaair Hussain, a project manager at a ward to that,” said Sana Kazmi, an education con- cricket-where he and two teammates were game studio in Lahore, added: “The return of sultant in Karachi. “But also, personally, as a fan, I found guilty of arranging no-balls to order as Amir has been something I’ve been eagerly just needed him to say ‘Sorry I screwed up’ part of an elaborate betting scam devised by a awaiting-the redemption at the end of this long unconditionally and he never did that. ‘I’m sorry I tabloid journalist six years ago. tragic arc. “A young man stupidly threw away got misled’ is not quite the same thing for me.” The trio served jail sentences over the affair in one of the most promising careers of his genera- The differing approach by the Pakistan what was perhaps the biggest scandal to hit the tion over a pittance. From the first day, he said Cricket Board to Asif and Amir’s former captain sport. England’s captain Alastair Cook has he would work to make himself worthy again. Salman Butt, both of whom remain out of already stated Amir can expect “a reaction” from After five long years, his punishment served, he national contention despite having also served English spectators while former English crick- is back and a live wire on the pitch.” their bans-has also irked some. eters Kevin Pietersen and spinner Graeme A few, however, expressed ambivalence “He’s a phenomenal talent, phenomenal,” said Swann have joined the ranks of those calling for because of Amir’s perceived lack of humility marketing professional Anthony Permal from a life ban for all fixers. since his return and the troubling signal his Karachi. “So we’re teaching our children that if Back home in Pakistan, however, ex-players comeback sends in a country that has been you’re really good at what you do, we will forget and most fans have come around to forgiving tainted by the spectre of match-fixing since the your sins. But, if you’re mediocre, get ready to be the left-arm pacer, citing his youth at the time of 1990s. Pakistan start the tour firm underdogs, thrown under the bus.” — AFP his crime and early admission-though some still have reservations about what example his return sets to would-be fixers. Legendary bowler Wasim Akram, who led the Root dismisses country to their last Test series win in England in 1996, said he believes Amir can weather the hos- Wahab ‘trash talk’ tility. “People want Amir to do well so there will be enormous pressure on him but I am confi- LONDON: England mainstay Joe Root Root has excelled at number four and five dent that he will come out a winner,” he told AFP. has dismissed “trash talk” by Pakistan pace- and the right-hander is now keen to justify his Muhammad Asif, one of Amir’s co-conspira- man Wahab Riaz who claimed he has got the promotion to top three. “I’ve matured quite a tors who is now playing club cricket in Norway, batsman’s number going into the first test at lot as a player and my game has developed a LONDON: England’s captain Alastair Cook takes part in a practice session at Lord’s also pleaded for understanding. “I request to Lord’s starting today. lot,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how cricket ground in London yesteray. — AFP England players and fans to allow Amir to play Root will return to the crucial number it goes.” Wahab reiterated Pakistan’s plans to freely. He and two of us others committed a mis- three position in the batting line-up against unsettle Root in Tuesday’s news conference. take, were punished and now our bans are over Pakistan and Wahab has already turned the “You want me to tell you the plans? Every Tendulkar calls for so let us play,” he said. Despite initial resistance heat on him, claiming the visitors have plans batsman has a strong point and a weak point from certain players, Amir’s current teammates ready for the 25-year-old. “I heard about that. and obviously you have to work hard on that more help from have united behind him while fans almost unan- It’s the same before every series, you general- and practise hard on that,” said the 31-year- imously back their hero. ly get a bit of trash talk,” Root told reporters. old left-arm paceman. “It’s getting a bit like boxing now. He is a “Joe Root is the backbone of the England pitches for bowlers ROAD TO REDEMPTION? fantastic bowler. Good pace, gets the ball to team and getting him out early will put the “What happened with Amir is now past,” said reverse swing, so it will be interesting to see pressure on England. If he thinks it is just LONDON: Cricket pitches need to be Tendulkar’s views echoed the senti- Shariq Mahmood from Karachi, a die-hard fan how that goes throughout the series.” trash talk then hats off to him.” — Reuters more bowler-friendly if the rising imbal- ments of Australian opener David Warner who travelled to India to watch the World ance between bat and ball is to be who said last week that flat pitches rather addressed, Indian batting great Sachin than bats with thicker edges are the rea- Tendulkar has said. son batsmen have the upper hand in test The (MCC) cricket. Tendulkar was part of the panel world cricket committee on Tuesday rec- that recommended Anil Kumble for the ommended limitations on the thickness India coach’s job and he expects the and depth of bats amid concerns that the team to benefit from the vast experience sport has tilted heavily in favour of the of the former leg-spinner. batsmen in recent years. “A fabulous player, a hard competitor A report commissioned by the MCC, and will not make any compromises on the guardian of the game’s laws, in 2014 the field,” Tendulkar told ESPNcricinfo. found the thickness of bats had margin- “He will be out there to win each and ally increased in the last and that every moment. edges had broadened by 300 percent, “He played for almost 20 years, so meaning even mistimed shots could still there is plenty to share. I’ll just tell the find the boundary. players to grasp as much information Tendulkar, who quit international from Anil as possible.” Kumble, who came cricket in 2013 as the game’s most prolific out to bowl with a bandaged jaw in a batsman both in tests and the 50-over 2002 Antigua test, can also teach the format, demanded more assistance for players how to handle adversity, said the bowlers from the playing surface. Tendulkar. “There are always big, crunch “The wickets need to change; they moments in any match and how to need to be more helpful for bowlers,” approach those moments is important,” Tendulkar said. “In T20s, the greatest of Tendulkar said. bowlers are being reverse-swept. Three- “In sport, over a period of time what hundred is no longer competitive in you learn is not every day you are suc- ODIs. “So there should be at least one for- cessful, sometimes you have to face fail- mat where bowlers have a better chance ures. “It is all about being a tough charac- of executing their skills and making it ter and be able to stand back on your more interesting for spectators. “I don’t feet again and to compete the next day. think it’s got much to do with bats, but Every day is a fresh day, new beginning. I’m sure people on the (relevant) panel That is something I feel Anil will teach will be able to look into it.” them.” — Reuters SAINT KITTS: Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli (C) and his teammates warm up during a practice session at the Warner Park stadium in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, yesterday. — AFP