TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 SPORTS

Surprise pick for Mali Khan visits Torres to return to Atletico CAPE TOWN: Metz forward Modibo Maiga has surprisingly been named in Mali’s 23-man massacre school MADRID: Spain forward Fernando Torres has agreed to return to Atletico Madrid on squad for the African Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea after missing the entire qualifica- PESHAWAR: British boxer Amir Khan yesterday visited loan from AC Milan until the end of the 2015-16 season, seven and a half years after tion campaign. the Pakistani school where Taleban gunmen slaugh- leaving his boyhood club, the La Liga champions said yesterday. The 27-year-old, on loan in Ligue 1 from West Ham United, has not played for his national tered 150 people including 134 children to pay his Torres, 30, has been struggling for goals since joining Chelsea from Liverpool in team in over a year and will not have fond memories of the Nations Cup finals after contract- respects to the victims. The WBC welterweight world 2011 and moved to Milan on loan in August. Chelsea and Milan agreed on Saturday to ing malaria at the 2012 tournament that was co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. champion, who has Pakistani roots, has pledged to help make the switch permanent, paving the way for Torres to be loaned to Atletico, where Coach Henryk Kasperczak provided few other surprises in his squad, with Bordeaux midfielder rebuild the Army Public School in the northwestern city Abdou Traore also returning after more than a year out of the national team. Ajaccio goalkeep- of Peshawar, the scene of Pakistan’s deadliest ever terror he will hope to resurrect his stuttering career under inspirational coach Diego er Oumar Sissoko can perhaps feel the most aggrieved at missing out, with N’Tji Michel attack. He offered prayers at a memorial to the dead at Simeone. Samake from local side Duguwolofila Mali preferred despite not appearing on the preliminary the school gates and said he wanted to visit the city The deal is subject to Torres passing a medical and will be finalised on Jan. 5 when list of 35 players announced by Kasperczak last week. despite security concerns to show solidarity. the Italian transfer window opens, Atletico said on their website (www.clubatleticode- The team will be captained by veteran Roma midfielder Seydou Keita and also “The main reason I’ve come to Pakistan was to come madrid.com). “In this way, the forward from Fuenlabrada returns to his home where he includes Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Bakary Sako. to Peshawar and see the parents and the children and was trained as a footballer and became one of their big stars,” the club added. Mali, who have finished third at the last two continental finals, have been give the children the confidence to go back to school,” A World Cup and double European Championship winner with Spain, drawn in a difficult Group D along with Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Guinea in he told reporters. “My heart goes out to the families and Torres joined Atletico at the age of 11. Known as ‘El Nino’ (The Kid), he made the parents whose children died.” The attack this month the Jan. 17-Feb. 8 tournament. shocked the world and prompted Pakistan’s political his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2001, when Madrid’s second club Squad: and military leaders to vow decisive action to stamp out were in the second division, and was appointed club captain two years later, Goalkeepers: SoumaÔla Diakite (Esteghlal Khuzestan), Germain Berthe militancy. Khan, 28, said the country must pull together becoming a huge favorite with the fans. (Eleven Creators) N’Tji Michel Samake (CS Duguwolofila Mali) to prevail. “We have to stop terrorism and with the help When he left for Liverpool in July 2007, having scored 91 goals in Defenders: Drissa Diakite (Bastia), Fousseyni Diawara (Tours), Molla of the army and the people of Pakistan we can stop it,” 244 appearances, he pledged to return and could make his debut Wague (Udinese), Ousmane Coulibaly (Platanias), Adama Tamboura he said. Last week the boxer announced he would against holders Real Madrid in the first leg of a King’s Cup last 16 (Randers), Idrissa Coulibaly (Hassania Agadir), Salif Coulibaly (TP would be setting up Amir Khan academies for young tie on Jan. 7. — Reuters Mazembe), Mohamed Konate (Renaissance Berkane) people in selected Pakistani cities. —AFP

SAN ANTONIO: Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (right) makes contact with San Antonio Spurs forward Tiago Splitter, of Brazil, during the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP Spurs defuse Rockets, Mavs silence Thunder

SAN ANTONIO: Danny Green had 24 points and lost 127-98 to Atlanta on Dec. 17, and the convincing Kenneth Faried, who had 26 points and a career- the injury-depleted San Antonio Spurs beat the victory for Detroit drew boos from the home crowd. best 25 rebounds in Friday’s win over Minnesota, Houston Rockets 110-106 on Sunday night, snap- Andre Drummond had 16 points and 17 rebounds had 17 points and 19 boards for the Nuggets, who ping a six-game skid against their intrastate rivals. for the Pistons (7-23), who were coming off a 119- have lost three of four. Tim Duncan scored 16 points and Manu Ginobili 109 victory over Indiana on Friday. Detroit set a sea- had 15 for San Antonio (19-13), which won for first son high for made 3-pointers by going 17 for 31 from SUNS 116, LAKERS 107 time in three games. James Harden had 28 points long range. Kevin Love had 20 points and 10 Goran Dragic scored 24 points, Eric Bledsoe had for Houston (21-8), and Dwight Howard added 24 rebounds for Cleveland, and LeBron James finished 20 of his 22 after halftime, and the Phoenix Suns points and 17 rebounds. The Rockets’ newest addi- with 17 points, 10 boards and seven assists. Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Lakers for their sixth consecu- tions had differing levels of success: Corey Brewer point guard Kyrie Irving missed his second straight tive victory. Isaiah Thomas added 15 points for the scored 25 points, but Josh Smith finished with five game because of a bruised left knee. balanced Suns, who haven’t lost with their new points on 2-of-7 shooting. Green made four straight starting lineup. Phoenix weathered an impressive free throws in the final minute, helping San Antonio RAPTORS 116, NUGGETS 102 Los Angeles surge in the final minutes for its seventh avoid going into overtime for the fourth time in its Kyle Lowry had 30 points and 11 assists, leading win in eight meetings with the Lakers, who lost their last six home games. The Spurs played without Toronto to the win. Lou Williams scored 31 points as third straight despite Kobe Bryant’s return. Kawhi Leonard (bruised right hand) and Tony Parker the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors completed Bryant had 10 points, eight rebounds and seven (mild strain left hamstring). a sweep of the season series against Denver. They assists in 32 minutes during his first game back from also beat the Nuggets 112-107 in overtime on Dec. a three-game absence to rest his aching 36-year-old MAVERICKS 112, THUNDER 107 8. The Raptors have won seven of eight. Ty Lawson body. Nick Young hit four 3-pointers and scored 21 Dirk Nowitzki matched his season high with 30 led Denver with 28 points, and Wilson Chandler had points while taking up Kobe’s scoring slack again for points for Dallas, and Chandler Parsons added 26. 20 points and 10 rebounds. the Lakers, who got within one point late. —AP Rory McIlroy The Mavericks rallied from seven points down to start the fourth quarter. They were without center Tyson Chandler, a late scratch with back spasms. NBA results/standings McIlroy ends year The Thunder played their sixth straight game without Kevin Durant because of a sprained right ankle. They fell short in their third chance to reach Detroit 103, Cleveland 80; San Antonio 110, Houston 106; Dallas 112, Oklahoma City 107; .500 for the first time after Durant and Russell Portland 101, NY Knicks 79; Toronto 116, Denver 102; Phoenix 116, LA Lakers 107. as top player Westbrook were sidelined by injuries for 14 of the first 16 games. Serge Ibaka led Oklahoma City with Eastern Conference Western Conference PARIS: Rory McIlroy made it a career total of Official World rankings at the end of 2014: a season-high 26 points. Atlantic Division Northwest Division 60 weeks as world number one yesterday 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 11.04pts W L PCT GB Portland 25 7 .781 - with the final golf rankings of the year. The 2. Henrik Stenson (SWE)8.13 TRAIL BLAZERS 101, KNICKS 79 Toronto 24 7 .774 - Oklahoma City 15 17 .469 10 Northern Irishman started the year as world 3. Adam Scott (AUS) 7.71 Wesley Matthews had 28 points, including six 3- Brooklyn 13 16 .448 10 Denver 13 18 .419 11.5 number six, but after wins in the British 4. Bubba Watson (USA) 7.27 pointers, and the Trail Blazers beat the short-hand- Boston 10 18 .357 12.5 Utah 10 20 .333 14 5. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 6.70 Open in July and in the WGC-Bridgestone ed Knicks. Portland was 16 for 36 from 3-point NY Knicks 5 28 .152 20 Minnesota 5 24 .172 18.5 6. Justin Rose (ENG)6.69 range. Nicolas Batum had five 3-pointers and 17 Invitational at the start of August he was 7. Jim Furyk (USA) 6.62 Philadelphia 4 25 .138 19 Pacific Division points. It was the eighth straight loss for the Knicks, back at the top. He cemented that position 8. Jason Day (AUS) 5.81 Central Division Golden State 24 5 .828 - with his fourth major title win at the US PGA 9. Jordan Spieth (USA) 5.75 who had just nine available players to start the Chicago 21 9 .700 - LA Clippers 20 11 .645 5 Championship and ended the year almost 10. Rickie Fowler (USA)5.47 game, and then lost Carmelo Anthony for the sec- Cleveland 18 12 .600 3 Phoenix 18 14 .563 7.5 three ranking points clear of second-placed 11. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.11 ond half because of a sore left knee. Milwaukee 15 16 .484 6.5 Sacramento 13 17 .433 11.5 Portland, which led by as many as 27 points, has Henrik Stenson of Sweden. 12. Martin Kaymer (GER)4.86 Indiana 11 20 .355 10.5 LA Lakers 9 22 .290 16 13. Billy Horschel (USA) 4.78 won eight of its last nine games. Cole Aldrich had Detroit 7 23 .233 14 Southwest Division Tiger Woods, who was top-ranked at the 12 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for New 14. Phil Mickelson (USA) 4.47 Southeast Division Memphis 22 8 .733 - start of the year, slumped to 32nd due to a York, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points. 15. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 4.16 Atlanta 22 8 .733 - Houston 21 8 .724 0.5 run of injuries and related problems with 16. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN)4.12 his swing. Masters champion Bubba 17. Victor Dubuisson (FRA)4.02 PISTONS 103, CAVALIERS 80 Washington 21 8 .724 0.5 Dallas 22 10 .688 1 Watson is the top-ranked American at 18. Zach Johnson (USA) 3.83 Brandon Jennings scored 25 points, and the Miami 14 17 .452 8.5 San Antonio 19 13 .594 4 fourth with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama the 19. Dustin Johnson (USA) 3.78 Pistons used an 18-0 run in the second quarter to roll Orlando 12 21 .364 11.5 New Orleans 15 15 .500 7 top Asian at 16th. —AFP 20. Chris Kirk (USA)3.76. past the Cavaliers. It was Cleveland’s second blowout Charlotte 10 21 .323 12.5 loss at home in less than two weeks. The Cavaliers