SPORT SPORT | 18 SPORT | 19 MMajor ambition World Cup beckons winner, Real Koepka,KoKoe Mackay legend Casillas and Spieth retires

WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST 2020 African CL QSL: Al Sadd, Al Duhail semi-finals format gear up for crunch battle changed FAWADFAWFAA A HUSSAIN again THETHHE PENINSULA AFP – JOHANNESBURG TheTh Week 20 of the QNBQNN Stars League The CAF Champions League (QSL)(Q( begins semi-finals format has been ttomorrowom with changed a second time with the eexcitingxci matches Confederation of African inincludingclu a crunch WEEK 20 FIXTURES Football (CAF) saying yesterday battlebattle between heavy- they would be played over two TOMORROW weightsweiggh Al Duhail and Al Rayyan vs Al Sailiya (16:30, Al Janoub Stadium) legs. All Sadd.Sad Al Wakrah vs Al Arabi (18:45, Al Sadd Stadium) Home-and-away matches WithWiW t three rounds to FRIDAY between Raja Casablanca of go inin thethe league, Al Duhail Al Gharafa vs Al Khor (16:30, Al Janoub Stadium) Morocco and Zamalek of Egypt leadlelead tthehe points standings Al Shahania vs Qatar SC (18:45, Al Sadd Stadium) and Wydad Casablanca of withwiith 4646 points,po four points SATURDAY Morocco and Al Ahly of Egypt aheadahead of ssecond-placed Al Umm Salal vs Al Ahli (16:30, Al Janoub Stadium) was the original plan. Rayyan,Rayyan, wiwith Al Sadd trailing Al Sadd vs Al Duhail (18:45, Al Sadd Stadium) But CAF later announced themthem bbyy eeighti points. A win that the semi-finals in the elite forfor AlAl DuhailDuhu a or even a draw QNB STARS LEAGUE STANDINGS AFTER 19 WEEKS African club competition would inin thetheh high-octanehigi h- encounter RK CLUB M W L D GF GA GD PTS become single matches in willwwiilll ttakeakke rerreigninge champions 1 AL DUHAIL 19 14 1 4 36 15 21 46 Cameroon port city Douala Al SSaddaadd ouooutu of the title race, 2 Al Rayyan 19 12 1 6 36 15 21 42 during September. whichwwhicch alalreadyr seems an 3 Al Sadd 19 12 5 2 48 28 20 38 This plan had to be improbableiimmprproobbabbl task for the 4 Al Gharafa 19 9 6 4 30 26 4 31 scrapped when Cameroon Wolves.WWolvlveses. 5 Al Arabi 19 6 6 7 27 25 2 25 withdrew as hosts, citing the WhileWWhhille AlA Sadd are looking coronavirus pandemic and the 6 Al Sailiya 19 7 8 4 21 24 -3 25 tot ‘fight‘fif ghg t untilunt the last minute’, possibility of seasonal 7 Al Wakrah 19 5 8 6 25 28 -3 21 AlA DDuhailuhu aaiil are completely downpours. focusedfofocucused onn winning the title, 8 Al Ahli 19 5 10 4 23 33 -10 19 Egypt, Tunisia, 2022 World whichwwhicich mamakesakek Saturday’s game 9 Qatar SC 19 4 9 6 18 25 -7 18 Cup hosts Qatar and the United betweenbbeettwweeeen tthe star-studded 10 Umm Salal 19 3 9 7 17 35 -18 16 Arab Emirates were reportedly teamsteteamams atat AAll Sadd Stadium an 11 Al Khor 19 3 10 6 21 30 -9 15 interested in replacing Cam- Al Duhail coach eagerly-awaited.eaageerlr yy--aw Both sides 12 Al Shahania 19 2 9 8 22 40 -18 14 eroon, but CAF has opted for a Walid Regragui havehaave shownshhoownw winning form in return to two-leg semi-finals. previousprpreve ioouuss round, with Al Raja and Wydad will stage DuhailDuD hhailil tthrashinghhra Al Gharafa ranks to remain focused to With three rounds to round, while Al Sailiya will be the first legs on September 25 2-022--0 andana d AlA SaddS edging out Al win the title. go in the league, targeting an upset to stay in or 26 and then travel to Egypt AhliAhA lil 1-0.1-0. "Now it is not easy, we Al Duhail lead the hunt for a top-four finish. Al for the return matches on XaviXavi HHernandez-coachede need confidence and patience. points standings with Wakrah and Al Arabi will October 2 or 3. AlA SaddSadd ararer taking all their We have to fight and play square off in tomorrow’s Should the title decider, remainingreremaaiinninng matchesm as ‘finals’, without pressure, and I have 46 points, four points other match. provisionally scheduled for andand theytht eyy haveha vowed to go all big confidence in all players,” ahead of second-placed Friday’s matches will see October 16 or 17, be an all- outouo t forfoor victoryv in their Regragui told media before Al Rayyan, with Al Sadd Al Gharafa (31 points) going Moroccan or all-Egyptian remainingrreemmaainniing fixtures. their 2-0 win over Al Gharafa. trailing them by eight all out against Al Khor to con- affair, it will be played in the “It’s“IIt’t’s reallyrerea difficult to win “We certainly learned the solidate their fourth position, country of the finalists. thisthhiiss leagueleeaague because we can’t lesson from Umm Salal and points. A win for which will earn them a place However, a neutral venue dependddeeppeendd oonn just ourselves but played with the strategy put Al Duhail or even a in the Qatar Cup and chance will be chosen if it involves one untiluunnttiil thethhe end, we will by the coaching team. I hope draw in the high- in next year’s AFC Champions Moroccan and one Egyptian compete.ccomppetete. TThis is Al Sadd, we we will win the points of the octane encounter League. club, with countries having arearare wiwinnersnnne and we will remaining matches and win The clashes between Al until August 15 to bid for the competecoompmpete e until the last the championship title," said will take reigning Shahania (last with 14 points) hosting rights. minute,”mminun te,”” ssaida Xavi. Al Duhail star Ismael champions Al Sadd out vs Qatar SC (ninth with 18 The 60,000-seat Stade AlAl DDuhailuha regained form Mohamed. of the QSL title race. points) as well as Umm Salal Olympique on the outskirts of inin AAll GhGGharafaarra match after a Meanwhile, tomorrow’s (10th with 16 points) vs Al Ahli Tunis would be a logical neutral shockshhoco k drawdrd a against rele- main match, which will kick (eighth with 19 points) will venue as the Tunisian capital gation-threatenedgag tiionon-thre Umm Salal of Week 20, will be played strongly in contention for the also have much at stake, in is roughly halfway between inn WeekWeeeek 18.188 between Al Rayyan and sixth- title, will be hoping to register terms of relegation and Casablanca and Cairo. AL Sadds coach All DuhailDuhh coach Walid placed Al Sailiya (25 points). victory after a draw against improvement in the teams’ CAF did not say whether Xavi Hernandez RegraguiReReggrraga uiu hhasa been telling his Al Rayyan, who are Al Arabi in the previous rankings. spectators would be allowed to attend the semi-finals and final of a competition originally scheduled to finish three months ago. Ahly have won the Cham- Red card warning for deliberate coughing pions League -- called the African Cup of Champions AFP – LONDON Association Board (IFAB) said it was up “If it were clearly accidental, then “If the incident was not severe Clubs until 1996 -- a record to the referee to judge whether he felt the referee would not take action nor enough to merit a sending-off, a caution eight times, Zamalek five times, Footballers can be sent off if referees the cough was an abusive gesture. if the ‘cough’ took place with a large could be issued for ‘unsporting Raja on three occasions and judge they have coughed deliberately IFAB classified deliberate coughing distance between the players. behaviour’,” it wrote in a document. Wydad twice. at opponents or match officials in the as similar to “using offensive, insulting “However, where it is close enough It added referees must not look to Meanwhile, the format for wake of the coronavirus pandemic, say or abusive language and/or gestures”. to be clearly offensive, then the referee punish “routine” coughing and “action the CAF Confederation Cup, the the sport’s rule-makers and England’s “As with all offences, the referee has can take action.” The FA’s guidance for can only be supported where it is African equivalent of the UEFA Football Association. to make a judgement about the true grassroots football in England will come evident it was a clear act against Europa League, will remain The International Football nature of the offence,” it said. into force immediately. someone else”. single-match semi-finals in Morocco. No Friday practice Champion Marquez ruled out of Czech for Imola F1 race race due to broken arm, replaced by Bradl REUTERS – LONDON

Formula One’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at REUTERS – LONDON The Spaniard, who tried to “After undergoinging a second Imola in November will be condensed into two return for the second race in operation... Marquezez and HRC days without Friday practice, the sport said MotoGP champion Marc Marquez Jerez but withdrew without have decided the worldrld champion yesterday. (pictured) will miss Sunday’s Czech qualifying, would stay in the will not ride in tthehe CCzechzech Session times for the November 1 race show Grand Prix after having a second hospital in Barcelona for 48 Republic in order fforor hhimim to only one 90 minute free practice session operation on a broken arm, with test hours before being discharged recover more. scheduled before qualifying on the Saturday. rider Stefan Bradl replacing him for following a fresh surgery. “In his place, HRCRC test rider Formula One race weekends usually feature the race, his Repsol Honda Team Stefan Bradl will mountunt tthehe HHondaonda two practice sessions on the Friday, with a third confirmed yesterday. RC213V.” Bradl has claimedaimed three totopp on Saturday followed by qualifying, the organ- Spaniard Marquez had fresh hospital in Barcelona for 48 hours 10 finishes at Brno frfromom hhisis sesevenven isers have announced. surgery on Monday to replace a before being discharged. starts in the MotoGPP class and only Imola, previously home to the San Marino damaged titanium plate inserted after “After a heroic return just four once missed out on points,points, the team Grand Prix and returning after a 14-year absence, he broke his right arm in the July 19 days after surgery in Jerez, Marc added. was added to the calendar in July to increase the season-opening race in Spain. Marquez will miss the Brno race with The Czech race is inin Brno,Brno, with number of rounds after cancellations due to the The team had said that the Stefan Bradl joining the Repsol Honda Petronas Yahama’s Frenchench riderrider COVID-19 pandemic. 27-year-old, who tried to return for Team alongside Alex Marquez,” the Fabio Quartararo targetinggeting a It will be the third F1 race in Italy this season the second race in Jerez but withdrew Repsol Honda Team said in a third victory in as many after Monza and Mugello. without qualifying, would stay in the statement. races this season. 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST 2020

Bernal warms Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma dribbles the ball between Utah Jazz guard Talking points ahead of first Joe Ingles (left) and forward Georges Niang during the first half of a NBA game at The up for Tour de Arena at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, on Sunday. major of the reshuffled season France with Major ambition win at Route d’Occitanie beckons Koepka, AFP – TOULOUSE Mackay and Spieth

Defending Tour de France AFP – HONG KONG 25 years, and was on the champion Egan Bernal secured bag when Lefty won the the overall victory in the Route Tomorrow’s US PGA 2005 PGA Championship d’Occitanie yesterday, under- Championship at Harding at Baltusrol, New Jersey. lining his prowess ahead of Park in San Francisco, the Bones parted ways cycling’s most prestigious race first major of the corona- amicably with Mickelson which starts later this month. virus-reshuffled season, is in 2017 and picked up Tho- Colombian Bernal placed the focus for talking points mas’s bag for a tournament fourth on the final stage, a in golf this week: in Hawaii 2018 when 195km ride raced mainly regular caddie Jimmy through the popular hiking Koepka’s history Johnson was injured. destination the Causses de shot He again answered the Quercy national park, two A couple of weeks ago, call on Tuesday last week seconds behind stage winner Brooks Koepka’s chances when Johnson was sud- Benoit Cosnefroy. of winning a record third denly taken sick and the However that was enough consecutive PGA Champi- pair gelled instantly with for Team Ineos rider Bernal to onship looked to be fading Thomas sweeping to take the overall title, 19 seconds after a string of poor results victory in Memphis. ahead of teammate Pavel and a recurrence of his nig- A second PGA Cham- Sivakov. gling left knee injury. pionship for both would The pair pulled off an Ineos But the big man from cap a fairytale fortnight. 1-2 on stage three Monday, Jupiter, Florida, tends to lift making time on the final off when the majors come What price a Spieth mountain ascent that even- into orbit, and his tied slam? tually secured the overall win. second place in Memphis He may not have won The 23-year-old looks a at the WGC St Jude Invita- an event since his 2017 nailed-on favourite to win this Lakers clinch No. 1 seed tional was a typical, timely Open Championship season’s Tour, which was post- return to form. triumph, but Jordan Spieth poned to August 29 due to the No player has won the (pictured) can this week coronavirus pandemic. US PGA Championship become just the sixth Four-time Tour winner with win over Utah Jazz three years in a row since player in history to secure Chris Froome meanwhile fin- it became a stroke play the career grand slam by ished way back in 37th place, AGENCIES – ORLANDO added 24 and Derrick White had New Orleans Pelicans 109 - event in 1958. winning all four majors. nearly 10 minutes behind 20. Keldon Johnson contributed a Memphis Grizzlies 99 The great Walter Like Koepka, Spieth fellow Ineos rider Bernal. Anthony Davis scored 42 points career-best 15. Rookie Zion Williamson Hagen is the only player to tends to save his best for and grabbed 12 rebounds Monday, scored six of his 23 points down have achieved the the majors. and the Los Angeles Lakers Denver Nuggets 121 - the stretch as New Orleans held ‘threepeat’ in history. Despite having a torrid Rising talent clinched the No. 1 seed in the Oklahoma City Thunder 113 off Memphis. season in 2019 where he Western Conference play-offs with (OT) Brandon Ingram led the Pel- Justin time for Jim could hardly find a fairway, Riedmann dies a 116-108 victory over the Utah Jazz Nikola Jokic scored eight of his icans with 24 points, JJ Redick had While new world Spieth still ended up in the at the ESPN Wide World of Sports 30 points in overtime to help 16, and Josh Hart and Jrue Holiday number one Justin Thomas final pairing with Koepka aged 17 after Complex near Orlando. Denver to a win over Oklahoma scored 15 each. Jaren Jackson Jr. will be chasing a second on the Saturday of last LeBron James contributed 22 City. led Memphis with 22 points, and PGA Championship to go year’s PGA Championship training accident points and nine assists, and Dwight With the Nuggets down three Grayson Allen scored 17 (all in the with his 2017 crown this at Bethpage Black in Howard added 11 points as the starters due to injury -- Will Barton first half). week at Harding Park, his Farmingdale, New York, Lakers improved to 2-1 in restart (knee), Gary Harris (hip) and Jamal New Orleans won for the first veteran stand-in caddie and eventually finished REUTERS – SUGENHEIM games, rebounding from a loss to Murray (hamstring) -- Michael time in the restart to tighten the has the chance of an unex- tied for third. the defending champion Toronto Porter Jr. moved into the starting battle for the final playoff spot in pected second title of his He’s playing more German cyclist Jan Riedmann, Raptors on Saturday. lineup and had a career game, the Western Conference. The GGriz- own.ow . JJim “Bones” o es MacMackay ay coconsistently s ste t y ssince ce tthen e a talented member of Donovan Mitchell scored 33 leading Denver with 37 points. zlies fell to 0-3 in the restartrt aandnd caddiedcaddied foforr withwith two top 20s anandd ononlyly WorldTour team Bora-Hans- points, 21 of which came in the first Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led saw their hold on eighth placee concon-- Phil Mick-Mick- oneone missed cut since the grohe’s feeder squad, has died half, and Mike Conley added 24 as the Thunder with 24 points, 14 in tinue to shrink. elsonelson foforr restart.restart. aged 17 from head injuries the Jazz lost their second consec- the fourth quarter. At a generouslygenerously pricedpriced sustained in a collision with a utive game after winning the Indiana Pacers 111 - Wash-sh- 50-1 with the bookmakers,bookmakers, car, his team announced on opening game of the NBA’s return Toronto Raptors 107 - Miami ington Wizards 100 he couldcould bebe a dedecentcent bbetet ttoo Monday. in central Florida on Thursday. Heat 103 TJ Warren recorded a game-ame- addadd his name to legendlegendss Riedmann, who rides for Fred VanVleet scored a career- high 34 points as Indiana scoredcored JackJack NicNicklaus,klaus, TigerTiger Team Auto Eder Bayern, the Philadelphia 76ers 132 - San high 36 points, leading Toronto to 22 of the final 24 points in thee tthirdhird Woods,Woods, Ben Hogan,Hogan, Under-19 feeder squad of the Antonio Spurs 130 a win over Miami. quarter to pull away from Gary Player andand WorldTour outfit, was training Shake Milton hit a 3-pointer Raptors forward Pascal Siakam Washington. GeneGene SaSarazenrazen oonn with his team-mates in Sug- with 7.2 seconds remaining to lift had 22 points, although he was Malcolm Brogdon chippedpped thethe all-timeall-time enheim in southeastern Philadelphia past San Antonio. held to just seven in the second in with 20 points, and a team-eam- slamslam llist.ist. Germany. Joel Embiid led the Sixers with half. Toronto also got 15 points off high six assists for the Pacers,acers, The International Cycling 27 points and nine rebounds. the bench from Serge Ibaka, and who have won both their gamesames Union (UCI) paid tribute to the Tobias Harris scored 25 points, and Kyle Lowry finished with 14 points, since the restart of the NBA young German on Twitter. Josh Richardson added 19 as the eight rebounds and five assists. season. “The UCI is deeply sad- 76ers improved to 40-27. Milton Miami was led by Goran Thomas Bryant hadd 20 dened by the loss of Jan scored 16 points after going Dragic’s 25 points, five rebounds points to pace the Wizards,, whowho Riedmann, part of the next scoreless in a six-point loss to the and five assists. The Heat also got fell to the brink of eliminationn frofromm generation of professional Indiana Pacers on Saturday. 17 points from Kelly Olynyk and 16 the Eastern Conference playoffayoff cycling,” the world governing DeMar DeRozan paced the points each from Jimmy Butler and chase with their third straightht loss body said. Spurs with 30 points, Rudy Gay Jae Crowder. in central Florida. Indy 500 MLB: Braves fall to Mets, lose Soroka for season scraps plans AGENCIES – NEW YORK New York Mets starting Reds 3, Indians 2 for fans over pitcher Jacob deGrom (top) Joey Votto hit a go-ahead, two-run New York ace Jacob deGrom picked up throws to Atlanta Braves homer in the sixth inning, and Cincinnati COVID-19 fears his first victory on Monday as the visiting third baseman Johan beat visiting Cleveland for its third Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-2 to Camargo in the sixth inning straight victory. AFP – LOS ANGELES end their five-game losing streak. of their MLB game at Truist Cincinnati’s Nick Castellanos DeGrom, the two-time defending Park on Sunday. homered for the fifth time, and third Cy Young winner, worked six innings time in two days, and Sonny Gray The organisers of the Indy and allowed two runs on five hits and (3-0) allowed two runs, one earned, 500 yesterday abandoned one walk. He struck out a season-high while striking out eight over six plans to allow spectators at 10 batters, the 42nd time in his career innings. Gray yielded four hits and two this year’s race, citing he’s had double-digit strikeouts. Only walks. concerns over COVID-19. Nolan Ryan (46) had more through his The Indians looked to be in good A statement from the first 173 career games than deGrom. shape behind starter Zach Plesac (0-1), Indianapolis Motor The Braves had their five-game who was strong until the sixth. After Speedway said the decision winning streak snapped, but lost their Shogo Akiyama opened the frame with had been taken after ace with a significant injury. Mike Soroka a single, Votto clubbed a 3-2 pitch into “extensive consultation had to be helped off the field in the third the right field seats to put the Reds on with state and city inning with lower right leg injury that top. leadership.” later was diagnosed as a season-ending Twins 5, Pirates 4 “It is with great regret torn Achilles tendon. Nelson Cruz delivered a game- that we announce the 104th Soroka was hurt while making a winning double to deep center field with Running of the Indianapolis move to cover first base on a ground ball. one out in the bottom of the ninth inning 500 will take place on He was unable to put any weight on his as Minnesota edged visiting August 23 without fans,” the right leg and needed assistance to leave. Pittsburgh. statement said. Soroka (0-1) allowed four runs on three Minnesota had runners on second The Indy 500 was crit- hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings before and third when Cruz blasted a 1-1 pitch icised by public health his injury. from Pirates right-hander Nick Burdi experts after initially (0-1). The ball landed on the warning planning to operate the Yankees 6, Phillies 3 track and bounced against the wall as race at 50 percent capacity, DJ LeMahieu, Brett Gardner and Gio Jorge Polanco easily scored from third. potentially meaning a Urshela all homered and Gerrit Cole crowd as large as 175,000. tossed six strong innings to extend his Cubs 2, Royals 0 Those plans were scaled regular-season winning streak to 19 Alec Mills pitched a career-high back last month when the decisions as host New York beat striking out four before the game was and Leury Garcia had three hits apiece seven innings as Chicago defeated Danny circuit said only 25 percent Philadelphia. delayed for 67 minutes by rain following as visiting Chicago defeated Milwaukee. Duffy and Kansas City in an old-fash- of capacity would be The Yankees have won seven the sixth inning. His 19-game winning Chicago extended its winning streak ioned pitcher’s duel at Wrigley Field. allowed. straight and are 8-1 through nine games streak is the sixth longest in baseball to a season-high five games behind 12 Mills picked up the win for the Cubs However the organisers for only the third time in franchise history. hits and a resilient bullpen. Six White with seven scoreless innings. He allowed yesterday said worsening history and the first time since 2003. Sox pitchers combined on seven three hits, struck out four and walked coaronavirus numbers in Cole (3-0) allowed one run -- on Jay White Sox 6, Brewers 4 innings of three-run relief after left- three. He threw 63 of his 98 pitches for the region made spectators Bruce’s homer leading off the third Jose Abreu had a two-run home run hander Carlos Rodon exited early with strikes. He retired 14 of the final 15 a non-starter. inning -- on five hits and one walk while among his two hits and Yoan Moncada shoulder stiffness. batters he faced. WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST 2020 SPORT 19 German football World Cup winner, Real clubs agree plans legend Casillas retires to allow fans to

AFP — MADRID among many players to praise return next month the veteran, nicknamed ‘The Spain’s World Cup-winning Saint’, on social media. AFP — BERLIN goalkeeper Iker Casillas “Football thanks you, man. announced his retirement Forever a legend @Iker- Football clubs in Germany’s top two divisions Today is both one of yesterday, after being side- Casillas,” Ramos tweeted. yesterday agreed to plans drawn up by the lined for more than a year the most important and Vicente del Bosque, who league which could allow the partial return with a heart problem. most difficult days of coached Casillas at Madrid of fans to stadiums from mid-September, Casillas, 39, also won the and with Spain also hailed his despite the coronavirus pandemic. European Championship my sporting life, the efforts. Under the plans proposed by the German twice with his country in a time to say goodbye has “Casillas has been a hero Football League (DFL) for the new season, trophy-laden career which arrived: Iker Casillas of the national team and which starts on September 18, the clubs agreed included more than 700 Spanish football,” he said. on four key points. games for Real Madrid. Former Italy captain Gian- Fans would only be allowed to sit, tickets “Today is both one of the luigi Buffon, who played would be personalised so spectators could be most important and most the history of Real Madrid and against Casillas on numerous traced, alcohol at matches would be banned difficult days of my sporting Spanish football joined us at occasions and is also seen as until October and there will be no away fans life, the time to say goodbye the age of 9. He was formed one of his country’s finest ever until the end of the year. has arrived,” he said on here and defended our shirt goalkeepers, echoed Ramos The plan is however subject to approval Twitter. for 25 years, becoming one of and Del Bosque’s praise. by German authorities, with health ministers Casillas joined Portuguese our most emblematic captains “They say competition of the country’s 16 states to meet on Monday side Porto in 2015 after a of all time,” the club said in a makes us better than others over the issue. tearful departure from statement. but not perfect faced with Germany has recorded 211,281 cases and Madrid. He suffered a heart “Today one of the most ourselves. Maybe this futile 9,156 deaths due to the coronavirus, and in attack in May last year. important footballers in our pursuit of perfection is what April began easing curbs imposed to halt trans- He played 167 times for 118 years of history calls it a made us who we are. #Grac1as mission. But fears are growing over a second Spain, winning the 2010 day as a professional player, Iker, without you, everything wave as daily number of new infections was World Cup and the Euros in a player we love and admire, would have been less mean- steadily climbing again, in recent weeks hitting 2008 and 2012 in a golden age a goalkeeper who has made ingful,” Buffon tweeted. levels not seen since May. for Spanish football. the Real Madrid legacy bigger In June, Casillas said he In this file combination of photos made on July 1, “The priority in Germany at the moment He lifted five La Liga titles with his work and exemplary was ending his bid to run for 2012 shows (up to bottom) Spanish goalkeeper Iker is not full stadiums, but people’s health,” said and the Champions League on behaviour both on and off the the presidency of the Spanish Casillas holding the Euro 2008 championships trophy Christian Seifert, chief executive of the Bun- three occasions during his pitch,” they added. Football Federation, because on June 29, 2008 in Vienna, the World Cup trophy desliga after a virtual meeting of the clubs. time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Former club and country of the coronavirus on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg and the Euro 2012 “When and how many spectators are “The best goalkeeper in team-mate Sergio Ramos was pandemic. on July 1, 2012 in Kiev. allowed to return to the stadiums is not a decision for the DFL to make.” BCB denies Pakistan captain backs Azam Madrid not paying Masters players ICC to shine in England Test series cancelled prize money AFP — MANCHESTER pair of Misbah-ul-Haq, now due to Pakistan’s coach, and Younis REUTERS —DHAKA Pakistan captain Azhar Ali is Khan retired in 2017. confident Babar Azam will Azhar told Pakistan media COVID-19 The Bangladesh Cricket Board show he is one of the world’s Babar Azam is a very that while he was “not happy AFP — MADRID (BCB) yesterday dismissed leading batsmen in the Test important player for with my batting”, he was allegations from a players’ series against England. us but I would like him working hard to make sure he body that its international The 25-year-old Babar has to be free from any lived up to his responsibilities The Madrid Open tennis cricketers have not been paid a fine career Test average of pressure and just enjoy as captain. tournament has been all their prize money. 45.12 from 26 matches heading Pakistan have named a cancelled due to fresh his game: Azhar Ali The Federation of Interna- into the first of a three-match 16-man squad for the first Test, outbreaks of coronavirus tional Cricketers’ Associations campaign against England at which will be played behind in the region, organisers (FICA) said in a report that the Old Trafford today. closed doors because of the confirmed yesterday, Bangladesh players have not But his figures during the coronavirus. raising doubts around the been paid their share of the past two years suggest he is They have the option to play upcoming US and French prize money from events approaching the prime of his three pacemen in Naseem Shah, Opens. organised by the International career. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Originally scheduled Cricket Council (ICC). Babar’s five Test hundreds Mohammad Abbas, together for May, the postponed The BCB said it has often have all come since the start of with two spinners in Yasir Shah Madrid tournament was given additional incentives to 2018, during which time he has and Shadab Khan. scheduled to take place on its cricketers, topping up what scored 1,375 runs in 15 matches The combined ages of the clay courts at Caja has been due to them from the at a hugely impressive average Naseem (17) and Afridi (20) are Magica between Sep- ICC prize money. of 65.47. lower than that of England tember 12 and 20. “The BCB has completed Babar is top of the global Babar Azam plays a cover drive during a leading Test-wicket taker James “We share in the dis- prize money payment to Twenty20 batting rankings, practice game ahead of England Test series. Anderson, who recently turned appointment that the players from all previous ICC third in the one-day standings 38. Mutua Madrid Open will events including the last, and sixth in the Test list. think if he keeps doing that he challenge and played with a lot “They are very talented, not be able to take place which was the ICC Cricket Azhar, asked if the EnEnglandgland will be up there for quitequi a of freedom and flair.” obviously not as experienced this year,” said Andrea World Cup 2019 in England serieses wouldwould see BabarBabar joinjoin longlong time.time. Azhar, anxious not to pile as some of the bowling attacks Gaudenzi, the ATP and Wales,” the board said in Australia’stralia’s Steve SmitSmithh “His performancesperforma too much pressure on to Babar, that have come to England in Chairman, in a statement. a statement. and India’sIndia’s ViViratrat KohliKohli in havehave improvedimproved mmas- said he wanted the batsman to the past, but potentially they are The tournament was In its ‘Men’s Global the toptop bracket of Test sivelysively in TestT relax and play his natural game. right up there,” said Azhar of the expected to boast a stellar Employment Report 2020’, batsmen,men, told British matchesmatches overover the “He is a very important young bowlers. field, including world FICA also listed the Bang- media:dia: “I“I thinkthink he iiss lastlast year or so. player for us but I would like “Naseem is a young talent number two and five-time ladesh Premier League as rightt up there already. Firstly, he was per- him to be free from any who came up and played Test champion Rafael Nadal, one of the events where “People“ Peop le are formingforming really well pressure and just enjoy his cricket from nowhere. and would have been a players have faced payment thinkingking and talking in white-ballwhite-ball ccricketri game,” said the skipper. “He’s impressed all of us key warm-up event two issues. aboutut it. He is just and people thoughttho Pakistan could also do with and is in our number one weeks before the start of The first few editions of the hungryngry for heh was only a white-wh runs from Azhar, who knows bowling attack.... Over time he the French Open. BPL, which started in 2012, runss andand I ballbab ll playeplayerr but English conditions well from his will get the experience he The Italian Open is were marred by irregular pay- Azhar Ali he tookt time with Somerset, and Asad needs. due to go ahead in Rome ments to players but the BCB oonn that Shafiq. “In terms of his potential, he in the week leading up to subsequently restructured the The two batsmen have is very threatening and hope- the grand slam at Roland payment system to address the scored just two hundreds each fully he will be very good for us Garros but it remains to be problems. in 18 Tests since the veteran in this series.” seen how other competi- tions react. Before then, hard- court events are planned later this month in Lex- England delay Stokes decision ahead of opener ington and New York ahead of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, which AFP — MANCHESTER Manchester nets on Monday but But Root backed his vice- maturer he’s got, he has got awkward decision of choosing is due to start on August 31. rain cut short his planned stint captain to deliver an honest better at understanding that between James Anderson, their After a rise in corona- England are set to delay a yesterday. assessment of his fitness ahead there are limitations to what he all-time leading Test wicket- virus cases in Spain, the decision on the bowling fitness “We still need to know a bit of the start of the Test on can do sometimes,sometimes even though taker, and in-form fellow regional government of of star all-rounder Ben Stokes more about where BenBen is at,”at,” Wednesday. those limitations are probably paceman Chris Woakes. Madrid recommended on (pictured) before naming their Root said at his pre-matchatch ppressress “He’s“He’s so furtherfurther forfor him thant for other “I couldn’t be happier to Saturday that the Madrid final XI to play Pakistan in the conference. commcommitteditted to players.”players.” have so many headaches,” Root Open be called off, with first Test at Old Trafford. “Because of the weaweatherther hhee thethe teateamm aandnd If StokesStoke can bowl, insisted. “To have such strength its cancellation duly con- Stokes’ quad injury meant wasn’t able to bowl outsoutsideide so thethe cause EnglanEnglandd could add in depth is really pleasing and firmed yesterday. he was unable to bowl in Eng- we’ll probably waitt on that tthathat he will hhimim tto the attack long may it continue.” Recent COVID-19 out- land’s victory over the West tonight and make a decisionecision in alwaysalways put tthathat pplayed in the England have lost the first breaks in Madrid had Indies at the Manchester ground the morning (Wednesday).sday). hishis bodybody onon WestWest IIndiesndies finale. Test in each of their past five caused concern around last week, which sealed a 2-1 “Ben being able too do eveeve-- thethe line.line. Alternatively,Altern they series. maintaining the safety of series victory. rything he can do is huge for “I supposesuppose maymay decide to drop Som- But, fresh from the West players, staff and fans, He was selected as a spe- this team and it showsows how thethe mmoreore he’she’s erseterset sspinnerpinner Dom Bess and Indies campaign and against a despite daily cases of the cialist batsman for that match, pivotal he is, but if he’se’s not fit played, the relyrely on Root’sRoot occasional Pakistan side who have played virus falling dramatically with England dropping Zak there are a number off ways we olderolder hhe’se’s off-breaksoff-breaks forfo variation in just two intra-squad games in Spain through most of Crawley from their top order to can go.” got, the a seam-dominatedseam-domi attack. since their arrival, Root said his June and July. make room for an extra bowler. Given Stokes’ aall-actionll-action BuBut if England side could have an advantage. The Palermo Ladies Now England captain Joe style, Root said judgingdging his rerrecallcall an extra The skipper said he Open became the first Root and coach Chris Sil- fitness was difficult. batbatsman to believed playing competitive official Tour event to verwood must decide whether “It’s a bit like tellinglling him bbalancea up the Test cricket so recently would take place since early to adopt a similar strategy as after nine overs on thee boubouncence sside,id Root and give England “a bit of a head March when the main they go in search of a first series not to bowl and trying to take SiSilverwood start” but added: “I think it is draw began in Sicily on win against Pakistan since 2010. the ball out of his handand ---- cocould be left really important we don’t take Monday. Stokes bowled in the it’s difficult,” he admitted.itted. wwith the that for granted.