SPORT Wednesday 6 June 2018 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 SL aiming to Floyd Mayweather capitalise on rare heads Forbes Windies visit money list Samba-Warholm showdown cynosure of all eyes in Oslo

CHINTHANA WASALA expected to give his best not to dis- In March, during the IAAF World clash in Eugene, the 25-year-old THE PENINSULA appoint his fans. Indoor Championships Lysenko launching a season’s best of 22.53m. Last week in the Italian capital, claimed gold, but Barshim took some The women’s pole vault will see DOHA: The battle for supremacy in Warholm took an early lead, but revenge at the Eugene Diamond Katerina Stefanidi of Greece look to the men’s 400 metres hurdles event Samba took charge in the final stretch League last month, going over 2.36m resume winning ways after a sub-par between Qatar’s Abderrahman to hand the home hero the second to beat Lysenko’s best of 2.32m. start to the year for the Olympic and Samba and world champion Karsten spot. Despite finishing behind Samba, Barshim, the 2017 Male Athlete world champion, though she will face Warholm will be the cynosure of all Warholm still managed to renew his of the Year, cleared 2.40m in Doha stiff competition in Sandi Morris, who eyes when the IAAF Diamond League Norwegian record with 47.82 last month. cleared 4.84m to win in Doha last resumes tomorrow in Oslo, Norway. seconds. Meanwhile, South Africa’s con- month. The Qatari star dazzled the crowd With Warholm looking to outplay troversial female athlete Caster The women’s 400m features the in Rome during the fourth meeting Samba and Yasmani Copello of Semenya will be looking to extend 1-2 from last year’s IAAF World Cham- of the Diamond League circuit last Turkey and Kerron Clement, the her dominance in the 800m that also pionships in USA’s Phyllis Francis and Abderrahaman week with a record breaking reigning Olympic champion is also includes Olympic silver medallist Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, though the Samba of Qatar performance. looking to make their presence felt, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, Ethi- quickest in the field this year is wins the men’s Samba has been in tremendous the event is expected to draw a opian newcomer Habitam Alemu and Shakina Wimbley with 50.18. 400m hurdles form this year and has cracked 48 delightful reception from the Oslo Britain’s Laura Muir. World champion Ramil Guliyev event during seconds on each of his three outings. crowd at the Bislett Stadium. The heavyweights of the men’s will headline the men’s 200m, the the Rome In Rome, Samba renewed the Asian In the men’s high jump, Qatar’s shot put will also square off, with Turk who has a best of 20.11 this year. IAAF Diamond record, Diamond League record and World Champion Mutaz Essa Barshim 2017 world champion Tomas Walsh The favourite, however, will be League the event record with an impressive will be looking to prove his of New Zealand taking on Olympic Jereem Richards, who clocked 19.99 athletics 47.48 seconds. supremacy once again when he goes champion Ryan Crouser and 2015 to finish runner-up in Doha and competition in Last year, Warholm set a national over the bar against Russia’s Danil world champion Joe Kovacs. 20.05 to again finish second in this May 31 file record at the same venue and he is Lysenko. Crouser fared best on their recent Eugene. photo. Cecchinato stuns Djokovic Toulon Tournament in France to reach French Open semis AFP another year of work where I improved and developed my PARIS: World number 72 Marco game,” said the 24-year-old. Cecchinato stunned Novak “I know how to handle a Djokovic in a French Open Grand Slam now, how... to get classic yesterday to set up a that deep in such a tournament, semi-final clash against Dominic and I think everything gets better Thiem, with Sloane Stephens and with experience.” Madison Keys to meet in the US Open champion Stephens women’s last four. brushed aside Russian Daria Cecchinato is the first Italian Kasatkina to set up a repeat of man to reach a Grand Slam semi- last year’s Flushing Meadows final since 1978 after his thrilling final with fellow American and 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 7-6 (13/11) good friend Keys. victory over the 12-time major The 10th seed produced a champion. clinical performance to down The 25-year-old, who had Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1 on Court never won a Grand Slam match Philippe Chatrier, firing 17 in his career before Roland winners. Garros, goes on to face Austrian Earlier in the day Keys, the seventh seed Thiem for a place 13th seed, reached the semi- in Sunday’s final. finals for the first time by seeing In an epic fourth-set tie- off Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva break, Djokovic saved three 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. match points but wasted three Italy’s Marco Cecchinato in action during his The 25-year-old, who was set points as Cecchinato became French Open quarter final match against Serbia’s ranked 957 just six weeks before the lowest-ranked man to make Novak Djokovic yesterday. her maiden Grand Slam triumph the last four in Paris since 100th- last year after a series of injury ranked Andrei Medvedev in 1999. problems, is now into the last In a roller-coaster of a FRENCH OPEN RESULTS four of a major for the third time. quarter-final, both men were Keys struck 30 winners past Qatar U-19 and South Korea U-21 players vie for the ball during warned for coaching, 2016 a battling Putintseva in an MEN yesterday’s play-off match of the Toulon International Tournament champion Djokovic required two QUARTER-FINALS impressive display as she con- medical timeouts while the tinued her recent revival on clay, in France. Qatar went down fighting to South Korea 1-2 in a Marco Cecchinato (ITA) bt Novak Djokovic (SRB x20) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), thrilling encounter. Nasser Abdulsalam (64) scored the only goal Italian was docked a point for 1-6, 7-6 (13/11) having never reached the unsportsmanlike behaviour. quarter-finals in Paris before this for Al Anabi while Se-Jin Jeon (13 Pen) and Young-Wook Cho Dominic Thiem (AUT x7) bt Alexander Zverev (GER x2) 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 Djokovic had also squan- week. (50) added two for South Korea. dered three set points in the The 23-year-old struggled second set and failed to serve out WOMEN last September under the the fourth in the ninth game after QUARTER-FINALS pressure with the US Open title being 5-2 in front. Madison Keys (USA x13) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on the line, losing 6-3, 6-0, but In an extraordinary post- Sloane Stephens (USA x10) bt Daria Kasatkina (RUS x14) 6-3, 6-1 she is confident that performance match press conference, won’t affect the match at Roland Djokovic then said he may even Garros. skip Wimbledon where he has “Maybe I’m sleeping. It’s German second seed Zverev “Honestly, the (US) Open been champion three times. amazing, it’s unbelievable for me. simply ran out of gas, paying a feels like it was 12 years ago at “I don’t know if I am going to I’m very happy because it’s unbe- heavy price for needing three this point,” said Keys, who is yet play on grass,” said the Serb. lievable to beat Novak Djokovic successive five-set matches to to drop a set in the “I’m just not thinking about in a quarter-final at Roland reach his first Grand Slam tournament. tennis at the moment.” Garros. It’s amazing,” he said. quarter-final. “I obviously rely on what I Cecchinato struggled to com- Thiem reached his third suc- Thiem, who lost in the semis learned there and how to prehend his triumph, coming just cessive French Open semi-final to Djokovic in 2016 and Nadal manage my emotions and two years after his career was with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 demolition last year, said he is now better- manage the moment, but there almost derailed when he became of a hobbled and exhausted Alex- equipped to go all the way. were so many late nights and I embroiled in match-fixing ander Zverev who admitted he “I’m a better player in was so tired. It feels completely allegations. was close to quitting the tie. general, for sure. There was different here.” 22 SPORT WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE 2018 Mayweather heads Forbes money list AFP However, female athletes Real Madrid soccer star Cris- $76.9m. Atlanta Falcons quar- notably failed to break into the tiano Ronaldo, who was third terback Matt Ryan is the highest LOS ANGELES: Boxer Floyd top 100 for the first time since with earnings of $108m. earning NFL player, coming in Mayweather (pictured) Forbes began publishing its Brazilian footballer Neymar at ninth with $67.3m. Ryan’s reclaimed his place at the top of ranking. Tennis star Serena Wil- was fifth on the list with $90 earnings were swollen by a Forbes’ annual ranking of the liams, who last year was the million in earnings, his salary $45m signing bonus after he 100 highest-paid athletes only woman to feature on the boosted by his record-breaking agreed a new contract earlier yesterday but no woman list at 51st place with earnings transfer from Barcelona to Paris this year. featured on the list for the first of $27m, dropped out of the Saint-Germain last year. Another NFL quarterback, time. rankings after taking a break NBA icon LeBron James was the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Forbes reported that May- from the sport due to the birth the highest-paid basketball Stafford rounded out the top 10 weather, 41, topped sports of her daughter. player to feature on the list, with $59.5m. highest-earners after banking Former welterweight king coming in at sixth with total Elsewhere, Britain’s $275m from his cross-combat Mayweather, who came out of earnings of $85.5m, just ahead Formula One world champion superfight against mixed martial retirement to face McGregor in of men’s tennis king Roger Lewis Hamilton is the highest arts star Conor McGregor in Las Vegas, topped the rankings Federer, who earned $77.2m. paid figure from motorsport to August 2017. for the fourth time in seven Swiss ace Federer remains feature, coming in at 12th with With an additional $10 years. the most attractive athlete for $51m. Tiger Woods, who has not million in endorsements, May- McGregor meanwhile sponsors, with endorsement won a tournament for five years weather earned a total of $285m vaulted up the rankings to deals accounting for $65m of his and who has barely played over between June 1 2017 and June 1 fourth spot, thanks to his $85m earnings. the previous three seasons, 2018, comfortably eclipsing the cut of the Mayweather purse. Golden State Warriors star remains the highest earning second-placed figure on the list, A further $14m in endorse- Stephen Curry was the only golfer with $43.3m, with $42m football star Lionel Messi, who ments took the Irish fighter’s other NBA player to feature in of it coming through made $111m. earnings to $99m, just behind the top 10, with earnings of endorsements.

Buffon NHL: Capitals move to brink of banned for three Euro maiden Stanley Cup triumph matches REUTERS REUTERS

NEW YORK: The Washington ZURICH: Talismanic Italian Capitals moved one win away goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from their first Stanley Cup has been given a three- championship with a 6-2 victory match European ban after over the Vegas Golden Knights he jostled the referee, was on Monday. sent off and launched a The win over the Golden tirade against the official as Knights, who are in their inau- Juventus lost to Real Madrid gural season, gave Washington in the Champions League a 3-1 lead in the National Hockey quarter-finals. League’s best-of-seven cham- UEFA said in a statement pionship series, which resumes the 40-year-old, who was in Las Vegas on Thursday. livid at a stoppage-time The Capitals withstood a penalty awarded to the furious start by Vegas, who Spanish side during the botched a pair of glorious early second leg last month, had scoring opportunities, before been sanctioned for a direct pulling away with first-period red card and infringing goals from T.J. Oshie, Tom “general principles of Wilson and Devante conduct”. Smith-Pelly. Buffon, a World Cup “One win away; it’s the winner in 2006, left Juventus hardest one,” said Alex Ovechkin, at the end of the season after who is trying to become the first 17 years at the club and has Russian player to captain a still decide whether to retire Stanley Cup champion. or continue his career “We knew this game was elsewhere. very important for us. Obviously Juventus, beaten 3-0 in we have a little bit of luck on our the first leg at home, side, they hit the post. But we just remarkably managed to claw grinded it out, we use our back the deficit at the chances, stick to the system, stick Bernabeu and the match was Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) celebrates with Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) after their game against the to the plan, and we get the poised to go to extra-time Vegas Golden Knights in game four of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on Monday. result.” when Real were awarded a Vegas almost opened the controversial penalty by scoring but sent one shot off the minutes into the opening period. roofed it with 21 seconds ourselves, we want to keep Capitals pulled clear again when English referee Michael side of the net, while another hit Washington struck again remaining in the first period. pushing forward.” Kuznetsov, Michal Kempny and Brett Con- Oliver. the post with Capitals goalie seven minutes later when “We’re in a good position who finished with four assists, nolly both found the net. Cristiano Ronaldo con- Braden Holtby out of position on Kuznetsov got the puck to a wide now but I think tonight we’re picked up his third of the night The Golden Knights, after verted and the 3-1 defeat both efforts. open Wilson, who quickly going to really look at this on John Carlson’s power-play losing just three games com- meant that Real, who went The Capitals made no such wristed a shot under Fleury’s because there are some areas goal late in the second period bined in the first three rounds of on to win the competition mistake when their first big glove from in close. where we got a little lucky at that all but sealed the victory. the playoffs, have suddenly lost for the third year in a row, chance presented itself on the With the red-clad crowd still times, especially at the start,” Vegas responded with third- three in a row. qualified 4-3 on power-play with Oshie burying on their feet, Smith-Pelly said Holtby, who made 28 saves. period goals from James Neal The only team in NHL history aggregate. a rebound of an Evgeny delivered a knockout punch “We want to clean those up and Reilly Smith, the latter to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a A livid Buffon jostled and Kuznetsov shot past Vegas goalie when he pounced on a loose to keep improving because we coming with seven-and-a-half final was the 1942 Toronto Maple ranted at the referee and was Marc-Andre Fleury nearly 10 puck to the left of Fleury and don’t want to get ahead of minutes remaining, but the Leafs. sent off. Muftah’s hat-trick lifts Khan Youngsters to win THE PENINSULA three sixes and two fours in 39, Omar Swadi made 33 with a Ibrahim 2/14, Obaid 2/21) Khan and Sudesh (20 in 25 balls with six and four boundaries and Youngsters: 111 for three in 8.2 DOHA: Muftah plucked a hat- two fours), held the middle-order Khadeer got 32, including three overs (Shahzad 50 in 24 balls, trick and fired Khan Youngsters together for some time and sixes. Ali chipped in with 26 in Mujtaba 19 in 11 balls, Adnan 16 to a seven-wicket triumph over helped the team move into three 36 deliveries. in 8 balls; Varghees 2/24, Dinesh Gulf Contracting Company in the figures. Earlier, Ishtiaq and Murad set 1/11) Ramadan Cup Twenty20 Cricket Jeevan cracked a six and two the tempo for Khyber Club’s 147 Man of the match: Muftah Tournament, organised by the fours to make run-a-ball 16. all out. Ishtiaq hit two sixes in (Khan Youngsters) Qatar Cricket Association. Apart from Muftah, who finished 18-ball 25, while Murad smashed Khyber Club beat Masters Batting first in a B and C Divi- with three for 31, Ibrahim and a couple of sixes and a four in 23. Club by 13 runs sions match at the Asian Town Obaid got two each. Nouman and Rahman added 19 Khyber Club: 147 all out in Cricket Stadium, Gulf Con- Shahzad launched an each to consolidate their team 18 overs (Ishtiaq 25 in 18 balls, tracting collapsed at 110 in 17 onslaught on the Gulf Con- further. Khadeer, Talha and Murad 23 in 20 balls, Nouman 19 overs, failing to recover from the tracting bowlers, hammering Omer shared six scalps. in 13 balls, Rahman 19 in 23 balls; triple strike by Muftah. four sixes and half a dozen fours Brief scores: Khadeer 2/21, Talha 2/13, Omer In his very second over, left- to compile 50 in just 24 balls. Khan Youngsters beat Gulf 2/26) Gul Hayat of Khyber Club Muftah of Khan Youngsters arm fast bowler man of the Mujtaba (19 with three fours) and Contracting Company by seven Masters Club: 134 for five in match Muftah first removed Adnan (16 with four boundaries) wickets 18 overs (Omar Swadi 33 in 22 Sasnur for one and then sent enabled Khan Youngsters to Gul Hayat inspired a 13-run three blows for 28, while Waqas Gulf Contracting Company: balls, Khadeer 32 in 15 balls, Ali back Dinesh and Alam for ducks wrap up the match in 8.2 overs. victory for Khyber Club against and Nouman picked one each to 110 all out in 17 overs (Pujari 39 26 in 36 balls; Gul Hayat 3/28) to have the rivals struggling at 13 In another match from the Masters Club. Chasing a fighting restrict them at 134 for five in 18 in 33 balls, Sudesh 20 in 25 balls, Man of the match: Gul Hayat for three. Pujari, who struck same category, man of the match 148-run target, Hayat struck overs. Jeevan 16 in 16 balls; Muftah 3/31, (Khyber Club) WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE 2018 SPORT 23 FIFA files Iceland out to make history complaint REUTERS Iceland on their glorious Euro country to have reached the indoor pitches and outdoor support to a team punching against 2016 odyssey that ended in a World Cup finals was Trinidad astroturf surfaces. way above its weight on the REYKJAVIK: An inhospitable quarter-final defeat by hosts & Tobago in 2006, with 1.3 “Soccer was always very international stage. climate and the smallest popu- France after knocking out million people. popular, but after the Euros it’s “It’s amazing, the support Viagogo lation of any World Cup nation England, also turned up to “Our training is the whole getting bigger,” says Sverrisson, is so huge,” goalkeeper Runar REUTERS have failed to dampen assist in continuing the year outdoors, and we have who coached the country’s Runarsson told Reuters. Iceland’s burning desire to tradition. very strong kids,” coach Freyr Under-16 team from 2002 to 2016. “From my family, from my make history at this month’s Despite sub-zero temper- Sverrisson told Reuters as he It wasn’t just the foot- friends, from people I don’t ZURICH: Soccer’s ruling body tournament in Russia in their atures that make it virtually kept a watchful eye on young ballers that put themselves on even know, the support is FIFA has filed a criminal own unique way. impossible to grow grass on players during a session at the map in France - the “thun- huge. They’re so happy.” complaint against online What other national team pitches for much of the year, the Haukar Hafnarfjordur derclap” performed by Ice- Set to face Argentina, ticket reseller Viagogo, saying coach, for instance, addresses the game is thriving in the club south-west of land’s fans provided some of Nigeria and Croatia, Iceland it wanted to protect fans and the fans in a local bar before a Nordic island nation. Reykjavik. the most memorable moments have a tough task to make it prevent unauthorised ticket home international, as Heimir With a modest population The club also offers bas- in the stands. out of Group D in their debut resales at the World Cup in Hallgrimsson did before Ice- of about 340,000, the coun- ketball, handball, skiing, With their faces painted in World Cup. Russia starting next week. land’s recent game against try’s men’s team is ranked karate and chess, but football the red, white and blue tones But, regardless of the Zurich-based FIFA said Norway? 22nd in the world, with the is fast becoming the dominant of the Icelandic flag and plenty results, the tiny nation and its on Tuesday it had filed a com- For good measure, Norway women three places better in sport, especially with wide- of Viking imagery, they colourful fans are guaranteed plaint, based on the law on coach Lars Lagerback, who led 19th. The previous smallest spread investment in full-size provide loud and colourful to make an impact in Russia. unfair competition, with the public prosecutor’s office in Geneva after receiving com- plaints about the Swiss com- pany’s practices. “FIFA’s ultimate objective in the fight against the sec- ondary ticket market is to pri- oritise the safety and security of fans and enforce a fair 2018 FIFA World Cup ticketing pricing scheme,” it said in a statement. FIFA said that its own website was the only legit- imate place to buy World Cup tickets, which are on sale until July 15 - the final day of the tournament. Iceland’s team “Tickets purchased via trains ahead of unauthorised distribution the FIFA 2018 channels, including all tickets World Cup at the purchased through viagogo Laugardalsvoellur AG, will be canceled once Stadium in identified. FIFA reserves the Reykjavik, Iceland right to refuse entry to the in this file photo. stadium to any holder of such tickets.”

WHERE THE TEAMS WILL BE BASED IN RUSSIA World Cup bound Serbia slump to

AFP MOSCOW: Where all 32 competing nations at the World 1-0 warm-up loss against Chile Cup will be based during this year’s tournament in REUTERS Russia, which runs from June 14 to July 15: Serbia’s Sergej Milinkovic Savic (right) kicks the ball past Chile’s Sebastian Vegas during their international friendly GROUP A GRAZ, AUSTRIA: World Cup- match played at the Merkur Arena in Graz, Austria on Monday. Russia: Khimki, in the north-west suburbs of Moscow bound Serbia gave their coach Saudi Arabia: Saint Petersburg Mladen Krstajic plenty to worry Egypt: Grozny, in Chechnya about ahead of the tournament in Uruguay: Nizhny Novgorod, on the Volga river, 400km Russia after a tepid performance east of Moscow in Monday’s 1-0 friendly defeat by a second-string Chile side. Only two astonishing misses by GROUP B substitute Angelo Henriquez spared Portugal: Ramenskoye, in the south-east suburbs of the Serbians from a heavier defeat, Moscow with centre back Guillermo Spain: Krasnodar, in southern Russia, 150km from the Maripan heading in an 89th-winner Black Sea for Chile who failed to qualify for Morocco: Voronezh, 500km south of Moscow the 32-nation tournament. Iran: Bakovka, in the south-west suburbs of Moscow Krstajic fielded an experimental 4-2-3-1 formation which failed to GROUP C spark as their final pass kept going France: Istra, 40km north-west of Moscow astray and the defence looked Australia: Kazan, in Tatarstan 800km east of Moscow shaky every time the South American side came forward Peru: at Sheremetyevo, to the north of Moscow purposefully. Denmark: Anapa, on the Black Sea coast Right back Antonio Rukavina looked particularly vulnerable and GROUP D striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was Argentina: Bronnitsy, 50km south-east of Moscow ineffective with Serbia’s build-up Iceland: Gelendzhik, on the Black Sea coast slow and predictable. Croatia: Vyborgsky, north-west of Saint Petersburg Talented winger Nemanja Nigeria: Yessentuki, by the Caucasus Mountains in Radonjic looked the only Serbian southern Russia threat as he came close twice with before man of the match Junior minute and shot wide with only Bizama cross from the left. Serbia shots from the edge of the penalty Fernandes, who gave his markers Stojkovic to beat. will play their final warm-up GROUP E area while Chile missed a string of a torrid time on either flank, set up The Chileans were rewarded game against Bolivia, also in Brazil: Sochi, on the Black Sea coast chances at the other end. a pair of sitters for Henriquez. in the dying minutes for their Graz, on Saturday before flying Serbia keeper Vladimir Sto- The former Manchester United more adventurous approach after to Russia where they face Costa Switzerland: Tolyatti, on the Volga near Samara jkovic produced two fine saves to prospect missed a gaping goal Maripan rose above his marker Rica, Switzerland and Brazil in Costa Rica: Saint Petersburg deny Felipe Mora and Diego Valdes from three metres in the 75th to head home an inswinging Jose Group E. Serbia: Kaliningrad

GROUP F Germany: Moscow Mastercard ends meals-for-goals Belhanda, Kaabi on target Mexico: Khimki, in the north-west suburbs of Moscow Sweden: Gelendzhik, on the Black Sea coast campaign with Neymar, Messi as Morocco down Slovakia South Korea: Saint Petersburg AFP REUTERS it put too much pressure on individual GROUP G stars. SAO PAULO: Mastercard on Monday The credit card giant, which GENEVA: Morocco’s Ayoub Kaabi and Younes Belhanda Belgium: Krasnogorsk, in the north-west suburbs of said it was changing a campaign in sponsors both players and the Brazilian scored in a 10-minute second-half spell to give the World Moscow which thousands of free meals were to Football Confederation, says that instead Cup-bound side a convincing 2-1 win over Slovakia in a Panama: Saransk, 650km south-east of Moscow be given to the needy every time football a million meals will be donated in 2018, warm-up friendly on Monday. Tunisia: Rogozinino, 25km south-west of Moscow superstars Neymar and Messi scored regardless of the goals scored. That is The North Africans, who play Spain, Portugal and Iran England: Repino, on the Gulf of Finland just outside goals. in addition to 400,000 meals already in their first appearance at the finals since 1998, dominated Saint Petersburg Under the scheme, every time the donated. the first half and nearly went ahead when Hakim Ziyech Brazil and Argentina strikers scored, “We don’t want the fans, players or hit the post from long range. GROUP H 10,000 meals would be donated to the anyone else to lose focus of the crucial Slovakia, who missed out on the tournament in Russia, Poland: Sochi, on the Black Sea coast United Nations World Food Program. question of hunger and our efforts to went ahead in the 59th minute when Jans Gregus rifled Senegal: Kaluga, 150km south-west of Moscow The idea, due to run until March help this cause,” Mastercard said in a home a low shot from 25 metres. Colombia: Kazan 2020, drew fire from many on social statement in Brazil. But substitute Kaabi headed Morocco level five minutes Japan: Kazan media who said it was in poor taste. Bra- On-pitch rivals Neymar and Messi later and Belhanda turned the game around when he chested zilian national team coach Tite also crit- will continue to cooperate for the cam- the ball down and fired home with a low shot from the edge icized it as counterproductive because paign, the company said. of the area. WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE 2018 SPORT 21 I was really struggling mentally Former Aussie captain Steve and I was really lucky that I had FOOTBALL TENNIS Smith shares his experience some close friends and family with students as he tried to International Friendlies: French Open: Men’s members that I could speak to at cope with the fallout from the Belarus vs Hungary; LIVE ON and Women’s all hours of the day. quarter-finals ball-tampering scandal. Norway vs Panama TUBE SL aiming to capitalise SA’s Impey takes yellow jersey on rare Windies visit after 2nd stage AFP one of the three matches. AFP Despite a poor showing in “I didn’t know Kwiatkowski PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies their most recent Test series in had fallen until after the race,” and Sri Lanka commence one of New Zealand last December, the BELLEVILLE: South African said Impey, who was already the most infrequent of interna- West Indies selectors have Daryl Impey took the leader’s looking ahead to Wednesday’s tional cricket assignments when retained the bulk of that squad yellow jersey off crash-victim 35km team time-trial. the first match of a three-Test in the expectation of returning Michal Kwiatkowski as “Sky are very strong, but so series begins today at the to the level of competitiveness Germany’s Pascal Ackermann are we,” said Impey of today’s Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. they showed in earlier Test cam- of the Bora team sprinted to favourites. More than 36 years since paigns in 2017 against Pakistan, victory in yesterday’s second “And if I can hold on to the being granted Test status, this is England and Zimbabwe. stage of the Criterium du yellow jersey, it will also mean just Sri Lanka’s fourth Test tour Devon Smith, the 36-year- Dauphine. Adam Yates is well placed, and of the Caribbean and the first old opening batsman, has been Kwiatkowski, Sky’s Polish he’s a world class climber,” said involving more than two named in the 13-man squad on rider who won Sunday’s Impey, who suggested Adam matches. the strength of a prolific first- opening time trial prologue, was as good as his twin brother On their last campaign to the class season with the Windward came off his bike after lashing Simon who wore the Giro region ten years earlier, the team Islands. rain left slick patches in the d’Italia pink jersey for 13 days led by Mahela Jayawardene It remains to be seen if he final two kilometres of the in May. claimed their first Test victory in can earn a spot in the final 181km stage between Mont- The third stage is almost the West Indies in a shared rubber. Angelo Mathews (right) and captain Dinesh Chandimal are among eleven at the expense of brison and Belleville, but entirely flat between Pont-de- Sri Lanka will be keen to the key Sri Lankan players in West Indies tour. incumbent Kieran Powell and managed to finish. Vaux and Louhans-Château- extend the form of their last extend a Test career that looked Impey, winner of Monday’s renaud, and is expected to blow seven matches in which they hampered by unexpected set- back in the key number three over when he was dropped fol- first stage and second overall the standings apart. were beaten just once, away to backs involving key players. position come the second Test lowing the second Test of the ahead of this stage, rolled over The final four days are for top-ranked India, and enjoyed Concerns also linger over a in St Lucia and the final match home series against England in the line for the Australian Mitch- the pure climbers with a an historic 2-0 triumph over number of seniors in the squad in Barbados, the first-ever day/ his native Grenada in 2015. elton team in third behind Ack- summit finish every day on Pakistan in the United Arab who are being managed very night Test to be played in the A Queen’s Park Oval pitch ermann and Norway’s Edvald some of the most fearsome Emirates while also prevailing carefully with a view to ensuring West Indies. which has acquired an unfor- Boasson Hagen to take yellow. climbs in the Alps. at home over an improving their readiness for the World Cup Of the trio of senior tunate reputation for a turgid Bangladesh side by the same in England in 11 months’ time. statesmen in their side -- left- surface encouraging neither margin in their last Test action Opener Dimuth Karunaratne arm spinner Rangana Herath, fast bowlers nor attacking in February. misses the tour because of former captain Angelo Mathews batsmen is likely to result in the However, their prepara- injury, as do fast bowlers Dush- and fast-medium bowler sort of dour battle of attrition tions for this series have been mantha Chameera and Nuwan Suranga Lakmal -- only which will examine both the Pradeep. Mathews featured in the lone stamina and concentration of Emerging batting star warm-up match ahead of the both sides. Dhananjaya de Silva was due in Tests, a drawn three-day fixture West Indies cricket remains Trinidad on Monday having against a Cricket West Indies in an almost perennial state of More than 36 years stayed at home when the touring President’s XI highlighted by flux as their star players from the since being granted party departed Colombo because captain Dinesh Chandimal’s T20 franchise formats around of the shooting death of his assured hundred. the world continue to be ignored Test status, this is just father, a local councillor in the All three are expected to play by the selectors, sparking con- Sri Lanka’s fourth Test Sri Lankan capital, the evening key roles in the quest for a first siderable debate within the tour of the Caribbean before they were due to start the Test series triumph in the West region, while an investigation and the first involving journey to the West Indies on Indies although Sri Lanka’s into alleged match and spot- May 25. selectors have already indicated fixing by the international news more than two It is unlikely that he will be that concerns over their long- network Al Jazeera has thrown matches. considered for the first Test term fitness are likely to result an unwanted spotlight on the Sri although he is expected to be in their being rested for at least Lankan game. Khan stars as Smith ‘cried for 4 days’ after Afghanistan secure T20 ball-tampering scandal REUTERS Herald. “I was really struggling series mentally and I was really lucky Ball recalled SYDNEY: Former Australia that I had some close friends AFP captain Steve Smith says he and family members that I South Africa’s Daryl Impey, wearing the overall leader’s yellow cried for four days as he tried could speak to at all hours of for Australia jersey, celebrates on the podium after the second stage yesterday. DEHRADUN: Spin sensation to cope with the fallout from the the day. Rashid Khan claimed four ball-tampering scandal in South “The people that I had sup- ODI series wickets to set up Afghani- Africa in March. porting me through that whole AFP stan’s series-clinching win Smith and former Test vice- time made a huge difference to over Bangladesh in the captain David Warner were the head space I am in now.” second Twenty20 interna- handed 12-month bans by Smith and Warner are LONDON: England Pedrosa to leave tional yesterday in the north Cricket Australia (CA) after scheduled to return to compet- called up Nottingham- Indian city of Dehradun. admitting a plan to tamper the itive action in the Global T20 shire seamer Jake Ball as Khan’s 4-12 helped ball during the third Test Canada, a tournament that cover for the injured Honda team at restrict Bangladesh to 134-8 against South Africa in Cape starts on June 28. Chris Woakes in their as the hosts surpassed the Town. Junior batsman Cameron squad to face Australia in modest total to win by six The duo lost their lead- Bancroft was banned for nine a five-match one-day end of season wickets and take an ership positions and were sent months for his role in the series this month. unbeatable 2-0 lead in the home aftafterer tthehe incidentincident incident.incident. Woakes joined Ben REUTERS three-match series. wwithith SmitSmithh bbreakingreaking Stokes on the sidelines “In life we all need new Samiullah Shenwari, who downdown in teatearsrs whilwhilee through injury when he challenges and I feel it’s time hit 49 off 41 balls, and apologisingapologising at an suffered a thigh strain in LONDON: MotoGP world for a change.” Mohammad Nabi, with an emotionalemotional prpressess England’s victory over champion Marc Marquez will Pedrosa has won 31 Grands unbeaten 31, took Afghanistan conferenceconference at Pakistan in the second have a new team-mate next Prix with Honda and is a three home with seven balls to SydneySydney Airport. Test. year after Honda announced times runner-up in MotoGP. spare. “To be Both will be una- yesterday that Dani Pedrosa He has yet to finish on the Khan, who had also honest,honest, I vailable to take on was leaving at the end of the podium this year, however, and starred in Afghanistan’s probablyprobably spent Steve Smith Scotland in Sunday’s season. is currently 12th. opening win of the series with fourfour daysdays in one-off one-day interna- The 32-year-old Spaniard, his three wickets, got his tearstears,”,” SmitSmithh tional and for the “first whose top flight career has second man of the match toldtold studestudentsnts at a part” of the series against been plagued by injury and award. schoolschool accoraccordingding Australia. operations, has spent his entire Nabi also got two crucial to thethe SydneySydney Grand Prix career with the Jap- scalps and even though fellow MorninMorningg ENGLAND SQUAD anese manufacturer since his spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman 125cc debut in 2001. went wicketless the teenager Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, “I want to thank HRC gave away just 15 runs in his Jonathan Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam (Honda Racing Corporation) for four overs. Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, all these years of great success. Afghanistan, who are Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil I have grown not only as a rider tuning up for their debut Test Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben but also as a person with them,” against India starting June 14, said the rider, who was 125cc

are scheduled to play the final Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, champion in 2003 and took match of the series tomorrow Mark Wood. 250cc crowns in 2004 and Dani Pedrosa at the same venue. 2005.