Sport

FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2020 TimeT to put on a show: England's Morgan It’sI the first time in a long time we’ve had a full-strength tteam available for selection. It’s very exciting. We will nnarrow it down (the squad for South Africa series) to 112 or 13 when we get to the ground today.

EoinE Morgan Sport | 15 EEngland captain AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Melbourne Victory vs Beijing, Ulsan Hyundai vs Perth Glory, Shanghai Shenhua vs Tokyo, Chiangrai United vs Seoul

Thousands bid farewell to Maradona AP – BUENOS AIRES HOW THE WORLD Tens of thousands of fans eager to honor Diego Maradona lined up to file past the REACTED coffin of Argentina’s most iconic soccer When I was growing up Diego was star yesterday, some confronting police the guide on how to play football. who tried to maintain order at the coun- This painful moments hurts us all, try’s presidential mansion. because Maradona is football, he is Some threw bottles and pieces of Argentina, he had that rebellious metal fencing at police near the Casa character which defined him Rosada in the heart of Buenos Aires. everywhere he went. He really Officers at one point used tear gas to looked after me when we were both try to control them. at Sevilla and I was very young. Fans blew kisses as they passed Diego may have gone but his spirit Maradona’s wooden casket in the main will remain on every football pitch: lobby of the presidential building, some ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO strike their chests with closed fists and SIMEONE shouting, “Let’s go Diego.” The casket was covered in an Argentine flag and the No. 10 shirt he It’s an enormous loss for the world famously wore the national team. in general but above all for football. Dozens of other shirts of different soccer What he did in the 1986 World Cup teams tossed in by weeping visitors is engraved in my mind. We feel were scattered on and around the A man waves a jersey with a picture of Diego Maradona awful about what happened today, casket. as fans wait to enter the Government House to pay we are very sad: REAL MADRID Maradona died on Wednesday of a tribute to late football legend in Buenos Aires, yesterday. COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE heart attack in a house outside Buenos Aires where he recovered from a brain Today is an unbelievably sad day. operation on Nov. 3. Fernando. Jana, who Maradona recog- Maradona’s death was confirmed and Maradona also speaks of Argentina,” de Our Diego left us. Our hearts - of all Open visitation started at 6:15 a.m. nized as his daughter only a few years grew to several blocks. Among those Lima told The Associated Press. of us who loved him for how he local time (0915 GMT) after a few hours ago, also attended the funeral. present were the renowned barrabravas Lidia and Estela Villalba cried near was, and for what he represented - of privacy for family and close friends. Then came former teammates of the fans of Boca Juniors, one of his former the exit of the lobby. Both had a Boca have stopped beating for a moment. The first to bid farewell were his 1986 World Cup-winning squad clubs. Juniors shirt and an Argentinian flag on Our silence, our tears, our pain is the daughters and close family members. including Oscar Ruggeri. Other The first fan to visit was Nahuel de their shoulders.A huge mural of only thing we are feeling deep His ex-wife Claudia Villafañe came Argentine footballers, such as Boca Lima, 30, using crutches to move Maradona’a face was painted on the tiles inside us at this time: FIFA with Maradona’s daughters Dalma and Juniors’ Carlos Tévez, showed up, too. because of a disability. that cover the Plaza de Mayo, near the PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO Gianinna. Later came Verónica Ojeda, The lines started forming outside “He made Argentina be recognised Casa Rosada, which was decorated with also his ex-wife, with their son Dieguito the Casa Rosada only hours after all over the world, who speaks of a giant black ribbon at the entrance. El Zahr nets late equaliser as Al Ahli steal a point against Al Rayyan; Al Wakrah and Qatar SC win

THE PENINSULA –

Nabil El Zahr struck a last-gasp equalizer as Al Ahli held Al Rayyan 1-1 in their Round-7 clash of the QNB Stars League (QSL) at the Al Ahli Stadium yesterday. ROUND 7 The former champions Al Rayyan YESTERDAY'S RESULTS had taken the lead in the 77th minute Al Sailiya 1-3 Al Wakrah through before Al Ahli Al Ahli 1-1 Al Rayyan fought back through El Zhar's injury- Qatar SC 3-0 Al Arabi ACL: Kobe’s Iniesta time penalty (90+5). TODAY'S FIXTURES Al Ahli and Al Rayyan now have Al Gharafa VS Al Khor sets his sights on 16 and 11 points under their names Al Gharafa Stadium 5:30pm respectively. Al Sadd VS Umm Salal deep run in Doha The match - dubbed as the Al Gharafa Stadium 7:45pm marquee clash of the week pitted REUTERS – DOHA Al Duhail VS Al Kharaitiyat together the high-flying Al Ahli and Al Duhail Stadium 7:45pm last season's runner-up Al Rayyan. Andres Iniesta has set his sights on steering Asian Al Ahli, who are enjoying a mem- Champions League debutants Vissel Kobe to the orable season so far, were looking latter stages of the competition as the Spanish for their sixth win in seven matches. Al Sadd's World Cup winner looks to finish a disappointing Apart from the Round-5 hick-up Action during the QNB year on a high for the Japanese club. where they lost to strong Al Sadd 1-7, Al Dosari returns Stars League Round-7 Iniesta was on target for Kobe on Wednesday Al Ahli had won all their games match between Al Ahli and as the J-League side defeated twice champions before yesterday's blockbuster clash. ahead of Umm Guangzhou Evergrande to become the first club Both teams attacked from the Al Rayyan. to secure their place in the last 16 of the eastern word go, but a goal eluded the Salal clash half of the draw in the continental opening session. Khalfan was fouled by Mohammed close towards the end of first half. championship. In the first half, Gabriel Mercado Alaaeldin and referee Abdulla Ali At the other end, Al Sailiya Vissel have endured a difficult domestic sent his shot wide, Abdulaziz Hatem Athba pointed to the spot, a decision attackers Abdulqadir Ilyas, Tiago THE PENINSULA – DOHA season, with coach Thorsten Fink fired in late was thwarted by Al Ahli goalkeeper confirmed by the Video Assistant Bezerra and Mohanad Ali (Mimi) September and Kobe still languishing in 11th place Ivanildo Rodriguez and Kom headed Referee. And Nabil converted from struggled to make inroads as they Former champions Al Sadd will be in the 18-team J-League despite owner Hiroshi wide of the target for Al Rayyan, who the spot. missed the speed and pace of Ahmed keen to stay atop when they take on Mikitani lavishing significant funds on his team. continued to miss the services of their Earlier, Al Wakrah defeated Al Hammoudan. However, the teams Umm Salal in their seventh QNB But Iniesta is hoping a change of scenery and ace player through Sailiya 3-1 at the Al Ahli Stadium to took the breather goalless. Stars League (QSL) encounter today. the win over Guangzhou in the club’s first game illness. jump to fifth spot in the QSL The second half saw a flurry of The QSL points leaders will since arriving in Doha at the weekend can kick- For Al Ahli, Abdulrasheed standings. Mohamed Benyettou (49), attacks by Al Wakrah and they were receive a huge boost when they start an improvement in Kobe’s fortunes. Ibrahim, Mohammed Diame and Omar Ali (52) and Cristian Ceballos rewarded with two quick goals. welcome back their regular goal- “It’s our first win in Qatar, and we have six Shane Lowry were off-target. (75) scored for Al Wakrah, while Ceballos found the target with an keeper, Qatar international Saad Al points now. This is very important for us to go Both teams sustained the Abdulqadir Ilyas (90+1) scored Al angular shot and Omar deflected in Dosari who missed out their pre- to the next stage, and I think today we showed momentum in the second half. Sailiya's lone goal. a shot by Benyettou. Al Wakrah were vious League matches due to an that we deserved the result. I think it’s very Al Ahli’s Ali Qaderi had a goal dis- The victory lifted Al Wakrah's totally in control now and Ceballos injury. important for us now to keep going like this.” allowed for offside in the 66th minute points tally to 10 while Al Sailiya added his second and the team’s third Al Dosari was recovering from Fifteen clubs are playing in Doha in a when he was on hand to send in a remained on eight . Both teams had with an opportunistic goal. a head injury he had suffered during biosecure bubble as the AFC attempts to com- rebound off the left upright after dropped points in Week 6, Al Sailiya Ilyas reduced the margin for Al the Qatar national team’s friendly plete the competition with a format which rep- Nabil shot first. drawing goalless with Al Khor and Sailiya in the first minute of stoppage against Ghana last month. licates that used in September and October for Much to Al Ahli’s dismay, an Al Wakrah losing 0-1 to Qatar SC, so time, but it was too little, too late. “The return of Saad to training teams from the west of the continent. unmarked Kom took Al Rayyan they played an open game. Later, at the Qatar SC Stadium, after his injury makes me very Iranian side Persepolis have already qual- ahead by taking advantage off an Ceballos started it all with a long- the hosts blanked Al Arabi 3-0. happy. He completed his recovery ified for the final and the side from Tehran will assist by Yohan Boli. range shot in the 13th minute. Omar New recruit Youcef Belaili netted process well,” coach Xavi Hernandez meet the leading team from the east of the con- When it looked like Al Rayyan was off-target in the 27th minute fol- a brace (38 and 87) and Alejandro said during a pre-match press con- tinent in Doha on Dec 19. would seal an important victory came lowing a quick move and Benyettou Jimena (90+5) added a third as Qatar ference ahead of their Round-7 “We’ll keep fighting, and we’ll go as far as the breakthrough deep into stoppage headed over in the 44th minute. Al SC took their points tally to nine, match which will take place at Al possible in this tournament,” Iniesta said. time. Al Ahli’s substitute Nasser Wakrah’s Riadh Nasser too came while Al Arabi stood on five points. Gharafa Stadium. Sport FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2020 15 Swimming: Al Sadd crowned Qatar Cup champions KhaleelKh l l Al Jabir, J bi President P id t of f Qatar Swimming Association pose with officials and Al Sadd captain Abdulaziz Al Obaidly, who received the 2019-2020 Qatar Cup trophy after the season- ending competition at Hamad Aquatic Centre, yesterday. It is the fourth Qatar Cup trophy for Al Sadd. They won the Qatar Cup with a total of 79.24 points, followed by Al Arabi (72.17) and Qatar Sports Club (69.05). Al Jabir congratulated all the participants and praised them for their commitment despite the challenges. Out of quarantine and into the Time to put on a show: Lewis fray, India tour gets underway Hamilton England REUTERS – SYDNEY The two captains India’s Virat Kohli and skipper The plans for India’s tour of Australia’s Aaron Finch Australia have been ripped up and Salary cap redrawn dozens of times over the Morgan last eight months but the action should not finally gets underway with the AFP – CAPE TOWN first one-day international at the handicap top Sydney Cricket Ground today. England captain Eoin Morgan says his It was at the same venerable England team are determined to “put on a talent: Hamilton ground on March 13 that Australia bit of a show” in the Twenty20 international REUTERS – MANAMA last hosted international men’s series, which starts at Newlands stadium cricket, with the hosts beating in Cape Town today. Any proposed cap on the New Zealand by 71 runs to snap a Morgan said he had become well aware salaries of Formula One drivers five-match losing streak in of the importance of live televised sport should be careful not to hold one-dayers. during the lockdown imposed by Covid-19. back the sport’s top talent, The 48,000 seats were empty “It’s huge,” he said of the chance to play newly crowned seven-times that day as the COVID-19 pan- international sport and provide enter- champion Lewis Hamilton said demic began to bite but Australia’s tainment for viewers. yesterday. relative success at containing the But Morgan said he did not foresee an Formula One has been dis- virus means up to half of them will early end to the need for teams to remain cussing a cap on driver salaries be occupied today. in bio-secure “bubbles” while playing. as part of a wider effort to level India’s squad will be raring to “There’s news about vaccines but the the financial playing field go after coming out of two weeks first to receive it will be the people who between the wealthiest and of quarantine, while Australia’s September and his side is likely AUSTRALIA VS INDIA - ODI SERIES really need it. We are well down the pecking poorest teams on the grid. players will be reunited after pre- to look pretty similar with the all- order of who should be prioritised,” he said. “I’m not personally paring in two separate groups to important addition of former FIXTURES (Start at 2.40pm local, 0340 GMT) “I don’t see any change before the start opposed to it,” the Briton, who satisfy biosecurity protocols. skipper Steve Smith, who missed Nov. 27: First ODI - Sydney Cricket Ground of our own summer.” England have further equalled Michael Schumacher’s Virat Kohli’s tourists are the the 50-over matches because of Nov. 29: Second ODI - Sydney Cricket Ground winter tours planned to Sri Lanka and India record haul of seven titles at the second ranked ODI side in the concussion. Dec. 2: Third ODI - Manuka Oval, Canberra before then. last race in Turkey, told world and will be looking to get Smith and opener David AUSTRALIA Morgan said England intended to field reporters in a video conference into their groove in the three Warner were also absent in the World ranking: 4 their best possible team against South call at the Bahrain Grand Prix. 50-over and three Twenty20 aftermath of the Newlands ball- Captain: Aaron Finch Africa. “I do think about the next matches that precede the four- tampering scandal when India Coach: Justin Langer “It’s the first time in a long time we’ve up and coming young stars that match test series around the new won ODI and test series on their Top ranked batsman: Aaron Finch (7) had a full-strength team available for are coming through and I don’t year. last visit but both batsmen will be Top ranked bowler: Pat Cummins (6) selection. It’s very exciting.” He said he particularly see why they “It’s important to start well in in the Australia team. Squad: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex believed his team were well prepared, with should be handicapped if the white-ball series,” India vice- All-rounder Mitchell Marsh’s Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, some players having been active in the they’re bringing something captain KL Rahul said. absence with an ankle injury Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn recent Indian Premier League while others huge to the sport.” The sport “We are playing for the might offer an opportunity to Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, had benefited from an extended off-season has already agreed a $145m cap country after a while. We enjoy uncapped youngsters Cameron Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David rest. on teams’ overall budgets for coming here and playing hard Green and Will Pucovski, who Warner, Adam Zampa “Training was very dangerous,” he joked next year which is set to reduce cricket.” Skipper Kohli will return have been in prolific form with INDIA about England’s big-hitting batsmen flexing further to $140m in 2022. home after the first test to attend the bat in the Sheffield Shield. World ranking: 2 their muscles in practice. The salary cap, however, is the birth of his first child. Finch said he thought the Captain: Virat Kohli South Africa captain Quinton de Kock not a part of those measures India have not played a one- unusual preparations would not Coach: Ravi Shastri said his country’s large 24-man squad had and is still some way away, dayer since they lost a series 3-0 have an impact on the Australian Top ranked batsman: Virat Kohli (1) been picked to cover both the T20 series with a proposal calling for it to in New Zealand in February but players, who will stand in a circle Top ranked bowler: Jasprit Bumrah (2) and a one-day international series imme- be implemented in 2023 put the players have had plenty of barefoot to recognise the coun- Squad: Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL diately afterwards. before the Formula One Com- opportunities to sharpen their try’s indigenous people before the Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, “We will narrow it down to 12 or 13 mission in October. skills in the Indian Premier match. Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, when we get to the ground today,” he said. “This sport controls pretty League (IPL). “I think everyone’s on the Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Two unnamed South African players much the driver’s image,” Wicketkeeper-batsman same page in terms of how we Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur remain in isolation after testing positive for added the 35-year-old, who Rishabh Pant was left out of the want to play one-day cricket and ODI HEAD TO HEAD Covid-19 but Cricket South Africa earns an estimated £40m ODI squad and opener Rohit build up some really good Matches: 140, Australia wins: 78 announced on Thursday there had been no ($53.40m) a year and is in Sharma will miss the two short momentum,” he told reporters on India wins: 52, No result: 10 new positive cases after a third round of negotiations over an extension format series at least with a ham- Thursday. LAST THREE SERIES testing. to his Mercedes contract which string issue. “Everyone’s just really looking 2019-20 India beat Australia 2-1 However, all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius is set to expire at the end of this Aaron Finch led Australia to a forward to getting out and playing 2018-19 Australia beat India 3-2 had been ruled out of both series after suf- year. 2-1 series triumph in England in for Australia.” 2018-19 India beat Australia 2-1 fering a hamstring injury during training. World champion Coleman Noor Al Hawa wins Al Safliya Cup appeals two-year ban REUTERS – LAUSANNE

World 100 metres champion Christian Coleman (pictured) has appealed against his ban for breaching anti-doping whereabouts rules, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said yesterday. CAS said it had registered Coleman’s appeal after he was banned for two years by the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) Disciplinary Tri- bunal last month and is set to miss next year’s Tokyo Olympics. Under the so-called whereabouts rule, elite athletes must make themselves available for random out-of-competition testing and state a location and one-hour window where they can be found on any given day. Al Safliya Cup's winning team posing for a photograph after Noor Al Hawa Three failures to properly file whereabouts information or being won the feature race of the 13th Race Meeting at QREC's Al Rayyan Park, absent during the hour stated in a 12-month period can result in a yesterday. one- or two-year suspension. The American sprinter said at the time of his provisional suspension Jockey Alberto Sanna thatthat anti-dopinganti-doping offi-offi- cialscials hadhad not ffollowedollowed prprocedureocedu when he guiding Al Wasmiyah Farm’s missedmissed themthem afterafter goinggoing Christmas shoppinshoppingg last year at Noor Al Hawa to Al Safliya a timetime whewhenn he had ssaidaid hhe would be Cup victory. at home.home. 14TH RACE MEETING - AL SAFLIYA CUP RESULTS CAS also said it had registeredr an AL SAFLIYA CUP (QA Listed) (Far Bend) appealappeal relrelatingating to world 400 Noor Al Hawa (Georges Mikhalides, trainer/Alberto Sanna, jockey) metresmetres championchampio Salwa Eid PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS (Far Bend) Naser.Naser. CAS saidsai the sport’s Akmar (Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani/Faleh Bughanaim) governinggoverning bbody World THOROUGHBREDS (Class 3) (Far Bend) AthleticsAthletics (W(WA) has filed Taxiwala (Osama Omer E Al Dafea/Mickael Berto) an appealappeal against the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) (Far Bend) decisiondecision of the AIU’s Zyzzyva (Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki/Ronan Thomas) DisciplinaryDisciplina Tribunal THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 5) (Qatari Riders Only) (Far Bend) to clclearear tthe Bahrain Thierry (Gassim Mohammad Ghazali/Saleh Salem Al Marri) runner of com- PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (Far Bend) mittinmittingg an anti- Djalnor (Mohammed Gassim Ghazali/Marco Casamento) dopindopingg rule vio- LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (3 Year Olds) (Far Bend) lationlation (ADRV) by S K Shawaheen (Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya/Alberto Sanna) missingmiss out-of- LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (3 Year Olds) (Far Bend) competitioncomp tests. AJS Berline (Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani/Marco Casamento)