Woods ready for leap into unknown at fan-free PGA Championship PAGE 14

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020

Fighting for life Al Rayyan in must-win Jakobsen suffers Tour of Poland horror crash clash to keep QNB Stars League title hopes alive A le photo taken on April 10, 2019, shows Netherland’s Fabio Jakob- sen celebrating as he crosses the nish line to win the 107th edition of the ‘Scheldeprijs’ one day cycling race in Schoten, Belgium. (AFP)

KATOWICE (Poland): Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was ghting for his life on Wednesday after he was thrown into and over a barrier at 80km/h in a sickening conclusion to the opening stage of the Tour of Poland. Footage showed 23-year-old Jakobsen, of the Deceuninck- Quick Step, racing elbow-to-elbow with fellow Dutchman Dylan Groe- newegen of Jumbo-Visma as both men frantically tussled in a tight sprint to the line in Katowice. However, Jakobsen came off worst, somersaulting over the barriers before colliding with a photographer after Groenewegen had veered suddenly to the right, squeezing his rival into the security wall. “His condition is very serious. His life is directly threatened,” tour doctor Barbara Jerschina told Polsat Sport. “Unfortunately, it is a serious head and brain injury. He has lost a lot of blood. He is very strong. I hope he will survive.” Governing body, the UCI said they strongly condemned the “danger- Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre speaks to the media ahead of the ous behaviour” of Groenewegen. Deceuninck-Quick Step tweeted: Week 20 clash against Al Sailiya. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabio Jakobsen. When we have news, we will let you know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.” The incident comes a year to the day after the death of 22-year-old Belgian sprinter Bjorg Lambrecht, who died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the 2019 Tour of Poland. “It was an unfair ght and one of the riders suffered tremendously, two more suffered as well,” Tour organiser Czeslaw Lang told TVP Sport. (AFP)

Fulham reach Premier League promised land EYES ON THE BALL: Al Rayyan players during training on Wednesday evening. AFP He wrapped up the victory LONDON for Fulham with three min- to bounce back and start win- utes of extra-time left when he Standings ning matches, especially after FULHAM beat Brentford 2-1 grabbed his second of the night. POS CLUB M W L D GF GA GD PTS a back-to-back draw against Al in the Championship play-off The left-back swapped pass- 1 Al Duhail 19 14 1 4 36 15 21 46 Wakrah and Al Shahania since final at Wembley on Tuesday es with Aleksandar Mitrovic and 2 Al Rayyan 19 12 1 6 36 15 21 42 the restart. to earn an instant return to stroked past Raya from inside 3 Al Sadd 19 12 5 2 48 28 20 38 Trabelsi’s side finished a the Premier League thanks to the area to give Fulham boss 4 Al Gharafa 19 9 6 4 30 26 4 31 shock third last season. They two goals in extra-time from Scott Parker the biggest win of AYENI OLUSEGUN matches left. have so far found it hard this defender Joe Bryan. his short managerial career. 5 Al Arabi 19 6 6 7 27 25 2 25 DOHA Al Rayyan coach Diego time around with fewer goals In a game considered the Promotion was confirmed Aguirre, who has seen his team 6 Al Sailiya 19 7 8 4 21 24 -3 25 and a leaking defence. most valuable single match for Fulham, but only after AL Rayyan’s disappointing crash out of the AFC Champi- 7 Al Wakrah 19 5 8 6 25 28 -3 21 “The match with Al Rayyan in world football, Bryan was Henrik Dalsgaard had pulled draw against Al Arabi last week- ons League, knows winning the 8 Al Ahli 19 5 10 4 23 33 -10 19 will be different from Al Sha- the unlikely hero after the two one back for Brentford in the end shifted the title balance to league or the Amir Cup trophy 9 Qatar SC 19 4 9 6 18 25 -7 18 haniya because Al Rayyan are London sides were locked at 124th minute. Al Duhail, and the Red Knights is the requirement for him to 10 Umm Salal 19 3 9 7 17 35 -18 16 competing for the title they need 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. He headed home af- took full advantage as they beat keep his job next season. 11 Al Khor 19 3 10 6 21 30 -9 15 to win to stay alive, but for us, Henrik Dalsgaard scored a ter Christian Norgaard had Al Gharafa 2-0 to extend their “Every game is challenging 12 Al Shahania 19 2 9 8 22 40 -18 14 the three points are essential, late consolation for Brentford knocked a free-kick across the lead at the top to four points. and everybody knows Al Sailiya which makes us expect an in- but it was too little too late face of goal. Al Rayyan know well that a will be a tough opponent but we in unceremonious fashion, Agu- lieve that it’s possible. tense and exciting match. for Thomas Frank’s side, who The Craven Cottage club win over Al Sailiya on Thursday are ready to play a good game. irre believes the team needs to “The difference between “We have prepared well but have not played in the English will earn around £135 million at the Al Janoub Stadium will This is what I feel and this is move past Tabata and focus on Duhail and us is four points, unfortunately, our continuing top-flight for 73 years. ($176 million) for bouncing keep their title fight going for what we must do so we can con- the remaining matches at hand. and there is still nine points problem is not taking the op- Left-back Bryan broke the back from relegation last sea- another weekend no matter the tinue fighting for the title,” the “No need talking about left to play. In football, any- portunities in front of the goal. deadlock for Fulham in the son and this result also gives result between leaders Al Du- Uruguayan said ahead of the Tabata,” Aguire said, adding, thing is possible but we have We will try to overcome this 105th minute when he caught rookie boss Parker a first suc- hail and reigning champions Al crunch clash. “For us as a team, we are in a to win our games and maybe problem,” Trabelsi said. Brentford goalkeeper David cess of his fledgling manage- Sadd on Saturday. Al Rayan’s top goal-scorer situation where we can win the it will be enough or not, we’ll Also, on Thursday, seventh- Raya off-guard with a free- rial career. However, if Al Rayyan, so far is Yacine Brahimi with 12 league and we will give our best see,” he added. placed Al Wakrah will hope to kick from 35 yards out. “We’ve done what we’ve who last won the Falcon Shield goals, the closest teammate to for that. We need to win each Meanwhile, Al Sailiya coach end their five-game winless run While Raya and everyone done tonight, but there’s still in 2016, fail to win against the Algerian is Abdulaziz Hatem game until the last, and in foot- Sami Trabelsi who is also the when they take on fifth-placed else expected a cross, Bryan improvement, and that’s what Sailiya, Al Duhail can seal their with six goals. With Rodrigo ball, you never know. We are longest-serving coach in the Al Arabi at the Jassim Bin curled the ball into the near makes me so proud and hap- seventh league title with two Tabata now signed with Al Sadd second now, but we need to be- QSL, said the Peregrines need Hamad Stadium. post to break the deadlock. py,” Parker told Sky Sports.

Clay king Nadal still preparing to play French Open

AFP tournament will go ahead. women’s draws looks inevitable. other players in different situations MADRID “I trust it will yes, it is in my mind Serena Williams, Novak Djoko- and they need to play because they and I am preparing for it,” said the vic and Andy Murray are all still due have financial problems and need to RAFAEL Nadal on Wednesday said 34-year-old in a briefing with interna- to play. earn money after a few months with- he still intends to play at the French tional media on Wednesday. “The tournament is still big, it’s a out income.” Open next month and remains hope- “But we have to wait for events, to Grand Slam,” Nadal said. “I am not ar- Nadal also said lessons need to be ful it will go ahead, despite with- see how everything evolves because it rogant enough to say the tournament learned after the “mistake” of the ill- drawing from the US Open due to is true that in recent weeks the situa- is not big because I am not playing. fated Adria Tour in June, which was coronavirus concerns. tion seems to have worsened a little. There will be important players. organised by Djokovic and led to sev- Nadal also insisted the US Open But my hope and my intention would “Of course it’s a tournament under eral players, including the Serb, test- will not carry an asterisk without its be to be there if conditions allow.” special circumstances but still a Grand ing positive for coronavirus. defending men’s champion, even if he Nadal also explained his decision Slam and the winner will feel like the “I think most of the players want admitted it will take place under “spe- to pull out of the US Open. “My heart winner of a Grand Slam. It’s true it will the best for the world and for people. cial circumstances”, with several top says today is not the moment to take be under special circumstances with a Of course there was a mistake in the players expected to sit out. long travels without knowing exactly lot of important players not travelling tour organised in Serbia and Croatia The 34-year-old Spaniard’s with- what can and cannot happen. there.” but mistakes are normal when you drawal was confirmed shortly after “My decision is to stay at home in Nadal added: “My words can have face a situation you haven’t faced be- the Madrid Open was cancelled on Mallorca where the situation is good, repercussions so it is difficult to say if fore,” Nadal said. Tuesday, with a rise in coronavi- it looks under control here, and to wait it is the right decision or not, for some “The players need to make deci- rus cases in Europe raising doubts for future opportunities.” players it will be right for others not. sions but I am not saying mine is the around other events, including the “I respect a lot the amount of work right one. Every decision can be right French Open, which is due to start in ‘SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES’ and positive intentions of the ATP and or wrong. We are facing unpredictable Paris on September 27. Women’s world number one USTA (United States Tennis Associa- situations. Nadal, who would be going for a Ashleigh Barty has also chosen not tion) to try to come back to the tour. “I really hope people learn from record-extending 13th title at Roland to compete in New York, where a de- I have taken my decision so you know the Adria Tour and we continue in the Garros, was asked if he thinks the pleted entry list in both the men’s and my thoughts but I respect there are best way possible.” Rafael Nadal. 14 Thursday, August 6, 2020 Sports Hathab equestrian action to resume at QEF TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA 10th round of the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s four-year-old Purebred Arabian Kabeer landed his rst victory in the Prix Arca – Wathba THE tenth round of the twelve- 12-leg annual Stallions Cup (maiden) at La Teste-de-Buch in France on Wednesday. leg Longines Qatar Equestrian (PICS: ROBERT POLIN) Tour Hathab 2019-2020 will Longines Qatar resume at the Qatar Equestrian Equestrian Tour Federation on Friday (August Kabeer records first victory, 7) after the season was halted showjumping in March due to the spread of King Shalaa new winner for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) starts Friday pandemic. The resumption with the HH Sheikh Mohammed two-day tenth round on Friday TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK colt, who is owned by HH and Saturday will be behind DOHA Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa closed doors and within the Al Thani, gradually relaxed framework of the plan to gradu- HH Sheikh Mohammed bin towards the rear. Entering ally lift the restrictions imposed Khalifa Al Thani’s four-year- the straight, the future winner in line with the Qatar Olympic old Purebred Arabian Kabeer did not have an easy passage. Committee’s plan to continue (Mared Al Sahra) landed his Jockey Olivier Peslier had to all sporting activities according first victory by a nose in the send him into middle of the to the precautionary measures Salman Al Emadi, who leads the Big Tour, on his mount Toymaker. Prix Arca – Wathba Stallions track to get the opening and established by Qatar. Cup (maiden) at La Teste-de- once he found a gap, the colt On Wednesday, a meeting Buch in France on Wednes- stormed to the lead. headed by Ali al Rumaihi, Di- day. This race was his sea- King Shalaa won by one rector, Longines Qatar Eques- sonal comeback and also his and a half lengths ahead of trian Tour Hathab, and also first attempt over a mile. The Normandy Beech (Le Havre), former Olympian, was held last time out, in September, who was having his third out- along with the other officials to the Julian Smart-trained colt ing. He snatched second, by discuss the procedures to be fol- had finished third over 10 fur- a neck just on the line, from lowed for smooth conduct of the longs. Trust On Him (Elvstroem). championship inkeeping with Miss Boum Al Maury After the race, François all the safety protocols. (Boum de Ghazal) led the race Rohaut, King Shalaa’s trainer The opening day of the tenth with a very steady pace while and breeder, commented: round will begin with the Small while the season will close with in Arabic, the annual champi- Kabeer, ridden by Clement “He’s a colt that we have al- Tour events at 4pm and will be the twelfth round from 27 to 29 onship aims at improving the Cadel, sat in fourth position. ways really liked since the day followed by the Medium Tour August. All the three rounds will standard of horse riding among A meeting of Hathab of cials discussed all precautionary measures. Wearing blinkers, he he arrived. In the morning, (individual and teams’ events) be held at the Qatar Equestrian Qatari youths while encourag- showed a nice turn of foot in he shows us the same talent at 6.45pm. Federation and will only include ing the involvement of private garnered 172 points from his lowed by Mohammed Khalifa the straight. He had to bat- as he did here and, although The second and final day of showjumping competitions for stables and individual horse participation in seven of the Al Baker (177), and Moham- tle with Nayar Athbah (AF he is very green, this race was the tenth round (Saturday) will individuals and teams. The re- owners to grow awareness of total nine rounds held till mad Hazim Abara (174). Albahar) and Zalej Al Cham intended to give him a good have the Open Class action from maining competitions for Dres- horsemanship as part of Qatar’s now. He didn’t showjump in In the Small Tour, Mo- (Azadi) before taking the lead. education. He pulled a little 4pm followed by the Big Tour sage and Future Riders shall not history and tradition. the first two legs. hammed Nasser Al Qadi (170 The Al Shaqab Racing-owned at the start and then struggled action from 6.45pm. be held given the young ages of The vision for Hathab is to Nasser Al Ghazali (166 pts) leads ahead of Khalifa colt Zalej Al Cham finished in to find his way in the straight, The mandatory veteri- competitors. inspire Qatar’s next generation points) is following him in Abdulla Al Khaldi (168), and second. but it’s a great lesson and it nary checks will be conducted All events will be held be- of international champions. the second place while Mo- Mohammed Al Ghazali (166). Bred by Al Shahania Stud, confirms what we think of on Thursday. hind closed doors and audienc- Longines, ExxonMobil and hammed Sultan Al Suwaidi Among the teams, the Kabeer is the brother of Nimr him. We’re not going to be in The third season of the an- es would be able to follow the Salam World are the official with 164 points occupies the Top Team (194) occupies Asf (Amer) winner of The a hurry this year because he’s nual leg Longines Qatar Eques- action live on sports television partners of this tournament third spot. the first position ahead of Heir Apparent Sword, Mkeefa still a big baby. I would like trian Tour Hathab had begun in channels. and it is open to all Qataris and The best seven out of the ExxonMobil team (180), and (Amer) winner of three Gr1s to thank HH Sheikh Abdul- October 2019 and was sched- The Hathab series launched residents of Qatar who wish to twelve rounds are taken into Lusail (175). (PA) including the Qatar Ara- lah bin Khalifa Al Thani who uled to conclude in April this in 2017 carries a total prize of participate. consideration by the judges With the championship bian World Cup and Chaddad trusted me when I told him year but has been extended to QR1.5mn and is an initiative of to decide the overall national having entered the final stage, (Mared Al Sahra) winner of that I had a very nice foal to due to the forced break due to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Salman Al Emadi leads Big Tour champions. keen competition is in store the Qatar Arabian Trophy sell. He is also one of the first the coronavirus spread. Thani, President, Qatar Olym- Salman Mohammed Al The Medium Tour is led ahead with the riders eager to des Poulains (Gr1 PA). His winners of Shalaa (Invincible The eleventh round will now pic Committee. Emadi currently leads the by Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi put up their best showjump- sire Mared Al Sahra (Amer) is Spirit), who I really like.” be held on August 14 and 15, Hathab meaning ‘Canter’ Big Tour points tally having (178 pts) and he is closely fol- ing skills. standing for HH Sheikh Mo- Bred by his trainer, King hammed bin Khalifa Al Thani. Shalaa is now the fifth winner of the young Al Shaqab Rac- KING SHALAA, A NEW ing sire Shalaa, who stands at 2YO WINNER Haras du Bouquetot. His dam PGA Championship King Shalaa (Shalaa x Baki (Turtle Bowl) won two Baki) made a thunderous de- races in Vichy over 2,000m but in the Prix du Chateau and in Deauville over 2,500m. de Portets (maiden), racing Besides King Shalaa, she is Brooks Koepka aims for rare three-peat against horses who had al- also the dam of Waltham ready racing experience at La (Wootton Basset), winner of AFP “This is a big-boy golf course. I think space between lockers. Teste, France, on Wednesday. three races including the Prix SAN FRANCISCO it kind of plays into my hands.” “Some sports are struggling to get A little keen at first, the Maurice Caillault (L). Golf’s first major championship of their seasons going and things going and BROOKS Koepka will be chasing history 2020 will be contested without specta- figure it out. Luckily the PGA Tour and at the PGA Championship on Thursday tors after the season was placed on hold the entities have been able to provide as the two-time defending champion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. a safe environment with testing,” said attempts a rare major championship Prior to its postponement on March Spanish golfer Jon Rahm. three-peat in San Francisco. 17, the PGA Championship was original- The PGA Championship launches The 30-year-old American is seeking ly scheduled for play May 14-17. the busiest phase of the disrupted sea- to join Walter Hagen as just the second This week was also the time set aside son. player to win the major for a third con- for the men’s Summer Olympic golf Following the PGA Championship secutive year. tournament in Japan. are three weeks of FedEx Cup playoff After winning the 2018 PGA Cham- The US PGA Tour has been back, mi- events with the US Open on September pionship, Koepka successfully defended nus spectators, since early June but will 17-20 at Winged Foot near New York. his title last year at Bethpage Black and really kick into high gear over the next Lately when it comes to majors, the is now aiming to become the first to win couple of weeks. smart money has been on Koepka. But King Shalaa (Shalaa x Baki) made a thunderous debut in the Prix du three straight since Hagen captured four More than a half dozen players and Brooks Koepka of the United States during there is plenty of star power in San Fran- Chateau de Portets (maiden) at La Teste, France, on Wednesday. in a row, beginning in 1924. several caddies have tested positive in a practice round prior to the 2020 PGA cisco this week, including last week’s “My game feels like it’s in really, re- the eight weeks since the PGA Tour re- Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Memphis tournament winner and new ally good shape right now,” said Koepka. sumed. Francisco, California, US, on Wednesday. world number one Justin Thomas. “I like the way I’m hitting it, and it feels Players, caddies and officials are (GETTY IMAGES/AFP) “Last week is over with. This is a new like I am putting it really well. tested for the coronavirus before en- week,” Thomas said. “We have a new Al Shaqab Racing’s “Every day is a lot more comfortable. tering the grounds. Players also under- their clubhouse has been redesigned field, new guys that are out here, all try- Emberator wins Prix Dahman I’m excited. go daily temperature screenings and to allow for three metres (10 feet) of ing to win a major.”

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Tha- DOHA ni, who also bred both colts. AFP minded me of sometimes on the week- Emberator was ridden SAN FRANCISCO end, you’d tee off Saturday morning and EMBERATOR (Munjiz x Ze- here by Ioritz Mendizabal. It Woods ready for leap into you’d just barely make the cut and you’re nhobie), broke his maiden was his first attempt at this TIGER Woods is preparing for a journey first off and there’s no one out there. for Al Shaqab Racing at Dax, distance of 2,300m, having into the unknown as he heads into this “But generally by the time you make France, on Tuesday. run twice before over shorter week’s PGA Championship hunting for unknown at fan-free major the back nine, there’s thousands of peo- This 3-year-old Purebred trips finishing 4th on his pre- a 16th major championship against the ple out there on the golf course waiting Arabian, who is trained in Pau vious start over 1,900m. surreal backdrop of a deserted course at eration has ever played without fans ve Williams, is among those who be- for the leaders to tee off. by Charles Gourdain, won by a Emberator was bred by TPC Harding Park. in a major championship. It’s go- lieve that the lack of fans might prove “But that never happened. So that’s short head in front of Nafe’eh Mathieu de Watrigant and Throughout his career, the 44-year- ing to be very different. to be a hindrance. the new world we live in. We just have to (No Risk AL Maury x Manga- comes from the most success- old former world number one has be- “But it’s still a major champi- “With that element missing, for get used to it.” dore) with Sarhan (Mared Al ful bloodline of French Pure- come accustomed to roaring galleries onship. It’s still the best players in someone who hasn’t played a lot Woods meanwhile has one eye on Sahra x Alghasa) just over a bred Arabian breeders Haras de following his every shot, providing a jolt the world. We all understand that of tournament golf this year, it’ll be this week’s weather forecast in San Fran- length further back in third. Mandore. His third dam is none of energy that Woods has fed off time going into it, so there’s going to challenging for Tiger to find that cisco, with the former world number Both the second and third run other than French Champion and again. be plenty of energy from the spark he needs,” Williams one’s lower back notoriously vulnerable in the colours of HH Sheikh mare Cherifa. Yet this week’s PGA Championship competitive side. said this week. to the cooler temperatures expected. in San Francisco will be different. “But as far as the Woods experienced “When it’s cooler like this, it’s just Restrictions imposed due to COV- energy outside the new fan-less reality at making sure that my core stays warm, ID-19 mean that the first major of 2020 ropes, that is an un- the Memorial Tourna- layering up properly,” said Woods. will be a fan-free, muted affair. known. And hopefully ment last month, at “I know I won’t have the same range Woods got an early taste of his I can put myself in a Muirfield Village, in of motion as I would back home in Flori- changed environment on Tuesday dur- position where I can Dublin, Ohio. He fin- da where it’s 95 every day. That’s just the ing a media briefing. Where in the past a be in that position ished tied for 40th. way it is.” scrum of reporters would have attended, where I can feel what “Those Woods, who underwent spinal fu- on Tuesday only a handful of journalists it feels like to have no four days sion surgery to rescue his career, said he were present. fans and also coming at Muirfield had spent most of his downtime during “Well, that’s an unknown,” Woods down the stretch with were a bit dif- the pandemic practising at home. said when asked about how the absence a chance to win.” Tiger ferent,” Woods “I feel good,” he said. “Obviously I Al Shaqab Racing’s Emberator in action at Dax in France, on Tuesday. of fans might affect his chances. Woods’ former cad- Woods. said. haven’t played much competitively, but (PIC: ROBERT POULIN) “I don’t know if anyone in our gen- die, New Zealander Ste- “It re- I’ve been playing a lot at home.” Sports Thursday, August 6, 2020 15

England-Pak Babar Azam stars as Pak make series to trial no-ball technology in Tests MANCHESTER: Front-foot no-ball technology that will see a solid start at Old Trafford the TV umpire alone deciding whether a bowler has over- AFP rain delay, Buttler missed stepped will be used for the MANCHESTER a chance to stump Masood rst time on a trial basis in after the batsman charged Test during the England- PAKISTAN’S Babar Azam down the pitch. Pakistan series, the Interna- underlined his status as one The mistakes will revive tional Cricket Council has said. of the world’s leading bats- discussion about the - Currently, the responsibility for men with a fine unbeaten keeper’s place in the side with calling no-balls lies with the fifty against England on an Ben Foakes, arguably a supe- on- eld umpires. interrupted opening day of the rior gloveman, waiting in the They can, however, call on first Test at Old Trafford on wings. their colleague in the replay Wednesday. Babar drew level on 45 booth for assistance if they When bad light forced an with Masood, who feel a wicket may have been early close, Pakistan were 139- was on 22 when the right- taken with an illegal . 2, with Babar 69 not out and hander came into bat, going But many observers have Shan Masood unbeaten on 46. on to complete an impressive argued this procedure is unfair But left-handed opener 70-ball fifty, including nine to bowlers given that, with Masood was twice missed on boundaries. on- eld of cials encouraged to 45 by England wicketkeeper The conditions favoured concentrate on the batsman’s either side of a England’s four-man pace at- end, they may not realise they lengthy rain break, with off- tack, who had been involved are over-stepping and rectify spinner Dom Bess the unlucky in last month’s 2-1 series win their delivery stride until it bowler on both occasions. over the West Indies, complet- costs them a wicket. The prolific Babar has now ed at Old Trafford. Under the new system, reached a half-century in five In contrast, Pakistan’s however, the TV umpire will successive Test innings, with preparations for the three- monitor the front foot after his previous five matches match series amounted to each ball and tell his on- eld yielding four hundreds. just two intra-squad warm-up colleagues if an illegal delivery Former England games. has been bowled. “Front foot Nasser Hussain, commentat- Masood and fellow opener no ball technology to be used ing for Sky Sports, said Babar Abid Ali did well to survive in ICC World Test Champion- could be considered alongside Pakistan’s Babar Azam plays a shot as England’s Jos Buttler (2nd left), Ollie Pope (2nd right) and Ben Stokes look on the opening day of their the first hour before Archer ship series featuring England players such as India captain rst Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Wednesday. (AFP) struck. and Pakistan, with the support Virat Kohli. Having tested Abid with of both teams,” the global “If this lad was Virat Kohli, grey skies after Jofra Archer several short-pitched deliv- governing body tweeted. everyone would be talking had pitched short to Babar. Scoreboard eries, the paceman bowled “Performance of the technol- about it but because it is Babar But even with two spinners Pakistan 1st Innings him with a full-length ball for ogy in these Tests will be Azam, no one is talking about bowling and the floodlights Shan Masood ...... 46 16 before Azhar was lbw to a reviewed before any decisions Abid Ali b Archer ...... 16 it,” said Hussain. on, the umpires still called a Azhar Ali lbw b Woakes ...... 0 Woakes nip-backer for a six- taken on its future use in Test “He’s young, he’s elegant, halt at 6:12 pm (1712 GMT). Babar Azam ...... batting 69 ball duck. cricket.” The new procedure he’s got all the swagger,” he Pakistan were 43-2 when Extras: (b1, lb6, nb1) ...... 8 England have not won a should also avoid the kind of added. Babar came in to bat after cap- TOTAL: (For 2 wkts, 49 overs, 206 mins) ...... 139 Test series against Pakistan situation umpire Richard Illing- To bat: Asad Shafiq, Shadab Khan, Mohammad “They keep going on about tain Azhar Ali, who had won Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad since 2010 and they came into worth found himself in 2016 the ‘Fab Four (Kohli, Aus- the toss, fell lbw for a duck to Abbas, Naseem Shah. this match having lost the se- when he incorrectly called tralia’s Steve Smith, New Zea- Chris Woakes. Fall of : 1-36 (Abid), 2-43 (Azhar) ries opener in each of their New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell land’s Kane Wiliamson and Bowling: Anderson 8-2-32-0 (1nb); Broad 11-4-24- past five campaigns against all for a no-ball that had bowled 0; Woakes 8-2-14-1; Archer 10-3-23-1; Bess 9-1- England captain ) – Stylish Babar 30-0; Root 3-0-9-0. opponents. Australia’s Adam Voges during it’s the ‘Fab Five’ and Babar Babar started cautiously but England: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Root (capt), As was the case during a Test in Wellington. There Azam is in that.” after the lunch interval he un- Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wkt), Chris the West Indies series, the was no way of rectifying Il- When play resumed in the furled an array of stylish at- Woakes, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, James three-match campaign is tak- lingworth’s mistake and Voges, Anderson. Toss: Pakistan. early evening after a long rain tacking shots. Pakistan captain Azhar Ali (left) shakes hands with his England coun- ing place behind closed doors who was on seven at the time, delay, Root was soon bowling He struck express pace- terpart Joe Root after the coin toss, ahead of play on Wednesday. (AFP) on health grounds, with Paki- went on to score a double his occasional off-breaks in man Archer down the ground er’s outside edge but Buttler stan denied the vibrant and century that was central to an tandem with Bess to try and for four before driving Bess for Pakistan’s hundred. have removed Masood for 45 dropped the chance. vocal support they usually Australia victory. (AFP) keep the match going under another boundary to bring up Bess, however, should when he took the left-hand- Then, following the enjoy in England. Hundred hero Paul Stirling kept faith as Ireland stun world champions England

AFP SOUTHAMPTON Scoreboard ENGLAND IRELAND (TARGET: 329) PAUL Stirling insisted he al- J. Roy c Balbirnie b Young 1 P. Stirling run out (Roy/Curran) 142 ways believed Ireland could J. Bairstow b Adair 4 G. Delany b Willey 12 J. Vince c Tucker b Young 16 A. Balbirnie c Billings b Rashid 113 beat England after his bril- E. Morgan c Tector b Little 106 H. Tector not out 29 liant century inspired a re- T. Banton lbw b Delany 58 K. O’Brien not out 21 cord Irish run-chase in a S. Billings c Adair b Young 19 Extras: (lb2, nb3, w7) 12 shock seven-wicket win over Moeen Ali c Stirling b Campher 1 TOTAL: (For 3 wkts, 49.5 overs) 329 D. Willey c Balbirnie b Campher 51 Did not bat: L Tucker, C Campher, A McBrine, M Adair, C Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. (AFP) the world champions dur- T. Curran not out 38 Young, J Little. A. Rashid run out (Tucker) 3 ing the third One-Day In- Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Delany), 2-264 (Stirling), 3-279 S. Mahmood c Balbirnie b Little 12 ternational at Southampton (Balbirnie). Extras: (lb10, nb2, w7) 19 Doncic triple gets Mavs off on Tuesday. TOTAL: (All out, 49.5 overs) 328 Bowling: Willey 10-1-70-1 (1nb, 3w); Mahmood 9.5- Both Stirling, with 142, Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Roy), 2-14 (Bairstow), 3-44 0-58-0 (1nb); Curran 10-0-67-0 (1nb, 1w); Moeen and Ireland captain Andrew (Vince), 4-190 (Morgan), 5-202 (Banton), 6-203 7-0-51-0; Rashid 10-1-61-1 (2w); Vince 3-0-20-0. mark, Clippers, Bucks fall Balbirnie (113), scored centu- (Moeen), 7-216 (Billings), 8-289 (Willey), 9-298 Result: Ireland won by seven wickets (Rashid), 10-328 (Mahmood). Player of the match: Paul Stirling (IRL) ries during Ireland’s ultimate- Bowling: Young 10-1-53-3 (1w); Adair 7-0-45-1 (1nb, Series: England win three-match series 2-1 AFP were encouraging each other. ly successful pursuit of 329. Ireland’s Paul Stirling during his innings of 142 against England in the 1w); Little 8.5-0-62-2 (1w); Campher 10-1-68-2 (1nb, Player of the series: (ENG) ORLANDO “Really a well-deserved It was Ireland’s highest third One-Day International played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton 2w); McBrine 8-0-61-0; Delany 6-0-29-1 (1w). Toss: Ireland. win for our guys.” successful chase in ODIs, on Tuesday. (AFP) LUKA Doncic delivered a The win saw the Maver- after they reached a target white-ball commitments -- the dropped by opposing skip- monster triple-double perfor- icks, who have already guaran- of 328 in a dramatic 2011 ‘Right up there’ Ireland’s win was all the first Test against Pakistan in per Balbirnie on 67. But with mance as the Dallas Mavericks teed a playoff place, improve World Cup win over England “We’ve chased over 300 a num- more impressive as they had Manchester starts on Wednes- England eyeing an impregnable bagged their first win of the to 41-29 in the Western Con- in Bangalore. ber of times, so we knew we lost the first two matches in a day -- few would have given total, they lost three wickets for NBA’s relaunched season in ference. When both Stirling and could do it,” said opener Stir- three-game series after making the Irish much hope. 13 runs in declining from 190-3 an overtime thriller against the Sacramento’s chances of Balbirnie were out in quick ling, the player of the match. lowly totals of 172 and 212-9. This was Ireland’s first to 203-6. Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. sneaking into the postseason succession, however, it looked Balbirnie added: “We ab- And that’s why although ODI win over England in Eng- Ireland’s victory, which The 21-year-old Slove- remain slim however. The like Ireland might falter but solutely thought we could England were without several land and their first against a rounded off the first ODI se- nian scored 34 points, with Kings have lost all three of their Kevin O’Brien – their hundred chase it, we just knew we had World Cup winners includ- major nation since the 2015 ries since the lockdown, also 20 rebounds and 12 assists games since the league restart- hero in India nine years ago to bat well up top. ing Test skipper Joe Root, all- World Cup. gave them 10 points in the as the Mavericks completed ed and are 13th in the West, on – helped see them to victory “We are delighted with rounder Ben Stokes and pace Earlier England captain new World Cup Super League, a 114-110 victory to get their the brink of elimination. in the company of novice in- how it finished. We obviously bowlers Jofra Archer, Mark Eoin Morgan, a former Ireland which will determine quali- campaign back on track in the Elsewhere on Tuesday, the ternational Harry Tector with didn’t perform with the bat in Wood and Chris Woakes be- batsman, made 106 against fication for the 2023 50-over Western Conference. Phoenix Suns continued their just one ball to spare. the first two ODIs.” cause of overlapping red and his native country after being showpiece in India. Tim Hardaway Jr. and hot streak in Orlando with a Kristaps Porzingis also came third straight victory to stun the up big with 22 points apiece as Los Angeles Clippers 117-115. the Mavericks overturned an Devin Booker was the hero 11-point deficit to seal victory for Phoenix, scoring on the Wallabies great Kearns wants 2027 World Cup to revive Aussie rugby at the HP Field House on the buzzer to cap a 35-point dis- NBA’s Orlando campus. play and a dramatic win over AFP Kearns said hosting the 2027 tour- important for the code’s future in Aus- Doncic’s masterclass made the highly rated Clipper. SYDNEY nament could be “transformational” for tralia that he shelved his leadership him the youngest player in Booker, who was mobbed rugby in Australia, which is currently ambitions to promote the bid. NBA history to score 30-point, by team-mates as he fell back- AUSTRALIAN rugby risks becoming a struggling with financial difficulties, “The financial windfall it would 20-rebound triple-double. wards on the court, also had “third tier” sport if it fails to win host- the Wallabies’ slide to seventh in the bring would spark the Australian econ- “It wasn’t our best game four rebounds and eight assists. ing rights for the 2027 World Cup, two- world rankings, and bitter infighting. omy as we rebuild from the impact of – far from that,” Doncic said. The 23-year-old was one time tournament winner Phil Kearns He offered an unflinching assess- COVID-19 and then gives us the op- “We fought, we hung in there, of five Phoenix players to fin- said on Wednesday after being ap- ment of rugby’s standing in Australia, portunity to invest back into the grass- we helped each other, we nev- ish in double figures, with De- pointed to lead the bid campaign. where it faces fierce competition from roots,” he said. er gave up. We needed that andre Ayton (19 points) and Kearns, who won the showcase rival codes such as rugby league and Kearns, 53, will work on the bid win and you can never count Ricky Rubio (18) the pick of tournament in 1991 and 1999 during Aussie rules. A le photo of Phil Kearns. with an advisory board that includes us out for sure.” the other Suns scorers. a 67-Test career, said he was “enor- “There was some talk that we’re a his ex-teammate John Eales and for- “Nothing came easy in this The win keeps Phoenix’s mously excited” to be named executive second-tier sport heading towards (be- Kearns has been an outspoken critic mer prime minister John Howard. game at all,” Mavericks coach hopes of forcing their way into director of the bid by Rugby Australia. coming) a third-tier sport,” he said. of the game’s administrators in recent Rugby Australia chairman Ham- Rick Carlisle added. “It was a the postseason alive. The Suns “There’s a couple of really big roles “By winning this, it gives us the years and had considered applying for ish McLennan said Kearns had an struggle, and everybody kept are within a game of ninth in Australian rugby at the moment and opportunity that we won’t go to third- the position of Rugby Australia chief “impeccable international reputa- everybody together, and we place and firmly in the hunt this is certainly one of them,” the for- tier... if you go back to the late 1990s executive after New Zealander Raelene tion” and would use his extensive just kept saying, ‘Hey, we’re to earn a place in the play-in mer Wallabies skipper told reporters in and early 2000s, we were a tier-one Castle quit the role in April. But he said contacts throughout the game to going to find a way,’ and guys tournament. a video conference. sport in this country.” hosting the 2027 tournament was so boost Australia’s bid. 16 Thursday, August 6, 2020 The Last Word

QATAR’S URGENT MEDICAL AID ARRIVES IN BEIRUT

In implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to dispatch urgent medical aid to Lebanon, the Qatari Amiri Air Force aircraft arrived at Ra c Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Wednesday, carrying urgent medical aid and supplies, and two fully equipped 500-bed eld hospitals to treat the injured in the explosion at Beirut Port. The aircraft was received by Ambassador of Qatar to Lebanon HE Mohammed Hassan Jaber Al Jaber, Charge d’Affairs at the Embassy of Lebanon in Qatar HE Ambassador Farah Berri, Head of the Airport Security Authority Brigadier-General George Doumit, Commander of the Beirut Air Base Colonel Hassan Barakat and the staff of Qatar Embassy in Beirut, as well as a number of Lebanese of cers. (QNA) 200 more mosques will QRCS responds to Beirut blast reopen on Friday: Awqaf TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK QATAR Red Crescent Society (QRCS) DOHA has activated its Disaster Management Center to outline an immediate humani- TWO hundred more mosques across the tarian intervention plan in response to country will reopen on Friday to bring the the huge explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. number of mosques available to worshippers An emergency meeting was held with to 400, Director of the Mosques Department Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, secretary- at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic general of QRCS, Eng Ibrahim Abdullah Affairs (Awqaf) Mohammed bin Hamad Al Al Maliki, chief executive director and Kuwari has announced acting director of the Relief and Inter- Kuwari said the new step would complete national Development Division, and the the process of reopening the mosques in line relevant heads of department to review with the various stages decided by the Su - the destruction in Beirut and decide on preme Committee for Crisis Management. the required aid, to be delivered in co- From tomorrow (Friday), these mosques operation with the Lebanese Red Cross will be opened to join the other 200 mosques and the office of the International Fed- which were opened at the beginning of the eration of the Red Cross and Red Cres- third stage of lifting of restrictions imposed cent Societies (IFRC) in Beirut. to curb the spread of coronavirus (COV - ID-19). According to him, the reopening of the Director of the Mosques Department at the Min- mosques in Qatar went through several stag- istry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) es, as 500 mosques were opened to perform Mohammed bin Hamad Al Kuwari prayers in the first stage on June 15, with an emphasis on adherence to health require- cooperated with us throughout the past pe- ments, while the second phase on July 1 saw riod in applying the precautionary measures 300 mosques opened. completely and smoothly, which contributed The third stage was announced on July to the continuation of prayers according to 28, when 300 mosques were opened to per - safety rules. We acknowledge that the con- form the obligatory prayers, and Eid prayers tinuation of this commitment helps us to reo - were held on July 31 at 400 mosques, while pen all mosques, God willing. We also thank Friday prayers were held on July 31 at 200 all the authorities of the state that He added, mosques. “The Ministry has launched a special website On Friday, July 8 (tomorrow), 200 to help worshippers to search for mosques mosques will be opened for Friday prayers, easily by region and geographical location. bringing the total number to 400. We have also published lists of mosques on Kuwari said, “We can also confirm that our social media accounts, and the ministry these mosques will be reopened according to is also keen to provide continuous aware- the same precautionary procedures applied ness-raising messages on all our platforms in all mosques. On this occasion, we extend on social media, as well as circulating these our thanks to all imams and worshipers who educational materials to all mosques.”

‘New technologies, modified work processes help tackle COVID-19’ TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 2020, QEERI quickly shifted DOHA gears and focused on how we can adapt our research work WITH Qatar now in Phase 3 to support Qatar tackle the of its re-opening from COV- pandemic. Although stepping ID-19-induced restrictions, away from their labs was dif- senior representatives from ficult for our scientists, it was all three research institutes at not a time to slow down and Hamad Bin Khalifa University we are truly proud of how our (HBKU) -- Qatar Computing team has stepped up to the Research Institute (QCRI), challenge. Qatar Biomedical Research Moving forward, as Qa- Institute (QBRI) and Qatar tar and the world starts ap- Environment and Energy proaching the ‘new normal’, Research Institute (QEERI) we need to think about what -- have shared their thoughts our approach to research is on the lessons learned from going to be. We may see a the pandemic and the reasons massive shift, not just at a na- to be cautious, as well as their tional level, but globally. Be- predictions for what the fu- yond the stressful aspects of ture may hold in their respec- toring social distancing. We Looking beyond QCRI, it’s TIATED’ While QBRI’s research is fo- biomedical field, science and this pandemic, COVID-19 has tive fields. were very happy to see these encouraging to see countries (Dr Omar El-Agnaf, cused on non-communicable research in time of pandem- provided opportunities for technologies utilised by Qa- worldwide embracing science executive director at diseases, the global spread ics. We will continue to devel- change across our entire spec- ‘TECHNOLOGIES PROVED CRUCIAL tar’s health authorities, and as the primary means to re- QBRI) of COVID-19 has encour- op new diagnostics tools, such trum of research areas, by not IN PANDEMIC RESPONSE’ some even adopted by other spond to the outbreak. From Through COVID-19, aged our institute to utilise as the COVID-19 test kits de- only triggering adaptation (Dr Ashraf Aboulnaga, nations. a technology perspective, QBRI has learnt to be adapt- existing expertise to support veloped in collaboration with strategies but also reinforcing senior research director Likewise, we are proud the response relied heavily able and prepared for any national needs and rethink Hamad Medical Corporation, our strength as a research in- at QCRI) of the resilience shown by on technologies that support eventuality. Although work- our future research priority and revise plans to assess core stitute oriented towards prac- Since the pandemic’s our staff and their adapt- global logistics, video confer- ing remotely has meant less areas. research areas from various tical and operational aspects onset, QCRI has worked ability working from home. encing, social distancing and time to conduct research in During this time, QBRI perspectives. of its activity. tirelessly to support Qatar’s We modified work processes medical research. As tech- laboratories, it has afforded has played a key role in rais- QEERI’s mandate is in- response. We developed arti- and put in place the neces- nologists, we were delighted our scientists the opportuni- ing awareness and keep- ‘RESEARCH SECTOR TO SEE A deed to support Qatar in tack- ficial intelligence (AI)-based sary supporting technologies, to see these proving to be up ty to devote more time to an- ing the wider community MASSIVE SHIFT GLOBALLY’ ling its grand challenges re- technologies for several quickly returning to full ef- to the challenge and crucial alysing data and developing informed about COVID-19 (Dr Marc Vermeersch, lated to energy, water and the problems such as model- ficiency. We also paid close in ensuring an appropriate scientific research papers. through the distribution of executive director at environment. ling and visualising the out- attention to the well-being of response, which will play an Moreover, the global crisis well-researched, reliable and QEERI) In any case, as much as we break’s progress, analysing our staff, for instance by de- even more prominent role in has enabled QBRI to col- trusted information as well as Over the last few months, have managed to do over the public reaction on social me- veloping a ‘buddy system’, en- the future. laborate with local entities the hosting of webinars relat- we at QEERI saw the real last few months, we are defi- dia, organising scientific lit- suring every employee has at to mobilise resources in sup- ing to the virus. meaning of resilience and nitely also looking forward erature for medical research, least one colleague for regular ‘IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE AND port of national efforts in the COVID-19 has also high- innovation. With the onset to heading back to the office, contact tracing and moni- exchanges. RESEARCH HAVE BEEN SUBSTAN- fight against the pandemic. lighted the crucial role of the of remote working in March and back to our labs.