SPORT Saturday 22 December 2018 PAGE | 17 PAGE | 19 Track & Field News Disgraced ranks ’s Steve Smith is Samba second desperate best in 2018 to return Fifth round of Qatar Manateq Baja flags off today

Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, having a discussion with the competing drivers during the technical scrutineering yesterday, ahead of the fifth round of the Qatar Manateq Baja which flags off today. Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President, Abdulrahman Al Mannai and the General Manager of Circuit Club, Khalid Al Rumaihi are also seen. Qatar’s Fares wins gold with record lift

THE PENINSULA

Qatar’s weightlifting star Fares Ibrahim Hassouna lifted a record total of 397kg to win gold during the 5th edition of Qatar International Cup 2018 in Doha yesterday. In the men’s 96kg category (Group A), Fares lifted 172kg in the snatch, followed by a clean and jerk lift of 225kg to outsmart a field of 14 top class weightlifters. With yesterday’s lift, Fares also renewed the junior records in both clean and jerk and combined weights. Chinese weightlifter Fuxuan Tian lifted 170 in snatch and 212kg in the clean and jerk round to win the silver medal with a total lift of 382kg. Belarusian athlete Yauheni Tsikhantsou, was placed third after being just one kilo short of the total weight lifted at the Inter- Continental Doha. In the women’s 64kg class, China’s Ting Huang established a new junior world record by lifting a total of 232kg. In the process, she Qatari weightlifting star bettered the previous records for snatch and Fares Ibrahim Hassouna jerk with new figures of 105kg and 127kg celebrates after winning respectively. the gold medal in the Taiwanese Kuo Hsing Chun also won yes- men’s 96kg category terday, with a snatch lift of 103 kg, clean and (Group A), during the jerk of 130 kg and a combined lift of 233 kg 5th edition of Qatar in the women’s 59 kg division. International Cup 2018 As many as 130 athletes from 35 coun- at the InterContinental tries including 64 male contenders are taking Doha yesterday. INSET: part in the event, a qualifying competition Fares in action. PICTURES: for the 2020 Olympic Games, hosted by the SYED OMAR Qatar Weightlifting Federation (QWF). Eto’o brace helps Qatar SC rout 4-0

THE PENINSULA more enthusiasm in the player and Algerian interna- on five points. The match DOHA second half in their bid to tional Madjid Bougherra really came alive after make a breakthrough, as standing in place of regular resumption of play following Former Cameroonian and Qatar SC slightly took their coach Nabil Maaloul from a barren first half. Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o foot off the pedal, having had Tunisia, had an upper hand After Al Gharafa went 2-0 netted a brace (27, 40) as a three-goal cushion. right throughout the game. up through goals from Fahad Qatar SC recorded breezed However, amid Al Edmilson was the and Vladimir, Nasser gave past Al Kharaitiyat 4-0 in Kharaitiyat’s moves, Qatar SC livewire in the Al Duhail Umm Salal slight hopes by their QSL Cup round four shook the rival net one more ranks as they dominated the finding the target towards the match yesterday. time when Ali headed in a ball with 62 per cent pos- end. Fadl Omar and Ali Said Al cross. session even though Al Arabi However, Al Gharafa Mohannadi scored the other Qatar SC are unbeaten so forced three corner kicks as sealed the issue through goals in the 36th and 68th far in the tournament. against the rivals’ one. Monkez’s stoppage-time minute respectively. Al Duhail also recorded Meanwhile, the goal. Yesterday’s win also a win in the simalar fashion defending champions Al Al Duhail, Qatar SC and secured Qatar SC their place yesterday against Al Arabi to Gharafa defeated Umm Salal Al Gharafa have collected in the quarter-finals of the maintain their unbeaten 3-1 for their second victory. eight points each at the end tournament, along with Al streak in the tournament. Fahad Al Shammari (48), of the fourth round. Umm Duhail and Al Gharafa. They overcame Al Arabi Vladimir Weiss (69) and Salal and Al Kharaitiyat will At the Al Duhail Stadium, by a 4-0 margin thanks to Monkez Mohammed (90+1) fight it out for the other last- Al Kharaitiyat’s best chance goals from Saleh Al Hilabi found the net for Al Gharafa, eight spot from Group A. to pull one back came in the (31), Salmin Zayed (57), Rabeh while Nasser Al Nasr pulled Al Arabi are out of con- Qatar SC’s Samuel Eto’o 58th minute, but Maher’s shot Bousaffi (61) and Paolo a goal back for Umm Salal in tention as they have yet to celebrates after scoring was blocked by Qatar SC Edmilson (83). the 88th minute. open their account, having a goal against Al goalkeeper Rajab Hamza. Al Duhail, under the Umm Salal thus crashed lost all four of their Kharaitiyat yesterday Al Kharaitiyat showed watchful eyes of their former to their first defeat and stayed matches. SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 17 Track & Field News ranks Samba second best in 2018 CHINTHANA WASALA man ever to break 47 second barrier and THE PENINSULA his 46.98 in Paris leaves him just 0.20 shy of the all-time best, held by Kevin Young Track & Field News, the international of the USA. magazine on athletics, ranked Qatar’s The top Qatari athlete also won the Abderrahman Samba as the second best IAAF Continental Cup and also struck a behind Men’s Athlete-of the-Year Eliud double at the Asian Games, winning the Kipchoge. 400 hurdles and the 400 relay. According to a list of top 10 male ath- Samba was not alone in the top 10, as TRACK & FIELD NEWS MEN’S letes, released by Track & Field News, the Qatar’s world champion Mutaz Essa ATHLETE-OF -THE-YEAR (TOP star 400m hurdler received 278 points Barshim also found a spot in the list. 10) whereas the marathon world record Despite not competing since July, due holder, Kipchoge received 299 points. to an injury, the gravity defying star was 1. Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) The voting was done by a 31-member named the 10th best. 2. Abderrahmane Samba (Qatar) international panel selected by the mag- Before his season was cut short, the 3. Kevin Mayer (France) azine for the 60th year. IAAF Athlete-of-the-Year in 2017, showed The Kenyan, Kipchoge, achieved the world that he is the one to beat, 4. Noah Lyles (US) several firsts during his highly successful jumping a world-leading 2.40-metre mark 5. Tom Walsh (New Zealand) year. He became the first marathoner ever twice. 6. Emmanuel Korir (Kenya) to become the Athlete-of-the-Year and also Barshim also had four of the five 7. Sergey Shubenkov (Russia) this was the fifth year in a row that he made highest jumps of the year. 8. Juan Miguel Echevarría (Cuba) it to the rack & Field News Top 10 list. This was the 27-year-old athlete’s third year 9. Timothy Cheruiyot (Kenya) The World Record in Berlin (2:01:39) in the Track & Field News’ Top 10 list. was the highlight of the year for the tireless The 70-year-old monthly magazine, 10. Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) 33-year-old. which ceased the print version in The Qatari, on the other hand, also had December last year, featured Qatar’s Qatari high jumper and reigning world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim an amazing year, being undefeated in nine Barshim on its last print issue - the annual poses for a photograph with the IAAF Men’s Athlete of the Year award races. ranking edition on its cover as 2017 Man in this November 24, 2017 file photo. LEFT: Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba The 23-year-old become the second of the Year. celebrates after winning the men’s 400m hurdles during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, in this August 27 file photo.

Record audience watched FIFA president gets votes ‘best World Cup ever’: FIFA pledge from Caribbean AP 2016 to complete the fifth term of REUTERS which gave them their second World FIFA says 3.572 billion ZURICH Sepp Blatter, who was banned by ZURICH Cup title following their triumph in viewers - more than half of FFIFA’sIFA’s ethicsethi cs 1998, was the most watched game of the global population aged FIFA President Giannianni Infantino still committee.committee. A record audience of more than 3.5 the competition. looks set to be re-electedlected unopposed,unopposed, billion people watched this year’s It was followed by England’s semi- four and over - watched with a pledge off 25 votes ffromrom World Cup in Russia, with the final final defeat to Croatia and the other some part of the official Caribbean soccer federations.federations. between France and Croatia attracting last-four clash between France and coverage. The Caribbeann Football Union 1.12 billion viewers, world soccer’s Belgium. says its executive committeecommittee agreedagreed governing body said yesterday. “These figures really do support unanimous supportt for Infantino FIFA said 3.572 billion viewers - the claim that Russia 2018 was the A further 309.7 million for the June 5 vote in Paris. FIFA President more than half of the global population best World Cup ever,” said FIFA’s caught the action on The CFU sayss all its Gianni Infantino aged four and over - watched some chief commercial officer, Philippe Le digital platforms, public members “alreadydy pro-pro- part of the official coverage, which was Floc’h. viewing areas or in bars and vided individual lettersetters of broadcast live in every territory “The fact that half the world’s pop- support.” worldwide from June 14 to July 15. ulation watched the FIFA World Cup restaurants. Infantino has The global in-home TV audience reflects not just the high quality of our promises fromm a watching at least one minute of the award-winning live coverage, but also majority of the 211 FIFAFIFA coverage accounted for almost 3.3 that fans everywhere are insatiable for member federations.ns. billion viewers, a 2.2 percent increase world-class football.” The deadline foror a on the 2014 edition hosted in Brazil, The World Cup coverage reached rival candidate to according to FIFA’s audit of audience around 1.6 billion individuals in Asia, These figures really do declare is Feb. 5. data published yesterday. with 655.7 million viewers (18.4 support the claim that Infantino iss A further 309.7 million caught the percent of the global total) in China, seeking a first full action on digital platforms, public who failed to qualify for the Russia 2018 was the best four-year viewing areas or in bars and tournament. World Cup ever: FIFA’s Chief mandate. The restaurants. The 2022 edition of World Cup will Commercial Officer Swiss lawyer was France’s 4-2 victory in the final, be held in Qatar. elected in Februaryy Solskjaer says he would ‘love’ to be full-time boss

spent nearly 15 years as a player and languish 19 points behind leaders Solskjaer will begin his United coach. Liverpool, and 11 off the Champions reign at Cardiff City, the only other But he said he would be inter- League places. Premier League club he has ested in taking the job permanently “My job is to help the players, managed -- he had a difficult eight- should the opportunity arise. make them grasp the opportunity month spell in South Wales and was “When you get a job like this and now because they all want to be part unable to save the club from they ask you to sign for six months, of Man United,” said Solskjaer. relegation. you say ‘yeah’,” he said. “I’m going to be here to help But he said he had learned from “I’m happy to help out and my them, help the team, that is down his mistakes. AFP job now for the next six months is to to man management. I had the best Solskjaer would not be drawn MANCHESTER do as well as I can and move the club manager as a player and coach to on his relationship with Paul Pogba, forward as well as I can. learn how he dealt with players and who lost his place under Mourinho Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told his first “I understand there are so many it’s about communication. I’ll sit and was in conflict with the coach. official press conference as managers who would love to be down and speak to the ones not “It’s about getting every player Manchester United’s caretaker manager of Manchester United and playing, tell them what I expect of to the best, speaking to them, the manager yesterday that he would I am one of them. But it is not some- them. training ground, the philosophy, relish the opportunity to be the thing we’ve talked about, they’ll do “When you’re at Man United principles, how we want to play,” permanent boss. a process now for the next six there are a set of demands and one said Solskjaer, who coached Pogba The 45-year-old Norwegian, a months.” is to be a team player and I don’t in the reserves at Old Trafford. legendary former player at Old Solskjaer, renowned for his think anyone has been on the bench “It doesn’t matter what team Trafford, has been appointed interim threat off the bench and still more than me. That’s always my you’re coaching, they all want to boss until the end of the season, revered by United supporters for comeback to players, you might have a picture of how you want to replacing Jose Mourinho, who was scoring the winning goal in the 1999 come on and make an impact.” play, the qualities. sacked on Tuesday. Champions League final, faces a Solskjaer spoke of the debt he “They are quality players so it Solskjaer, on loan from Norway’s daunting challenge as he replaces owed to Alex Ferguson, who built a will be easier to get the players Molde, conceded that he has not Mourinho. team that dominated English expressing themselves. You play looked beyond the end of the current United have made their worst football, winning 13 Premier League with courage, go out there and Ole Gunnar Solsjaer campaign with the club where he start in the Premier League era and titles and two Champions Leagues. express your skills.” 18 SPORT SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER 2018 Heat bring Rockets back to earth

AFP “We had a lot of opportu- LOS ANGELES nities,” Harden said. “We gave them a lot of The Miami Heat snapped second chance opportunities, Houston’s five-game NBA especially in the first half (that) winning streak with a 101-99 kept them in the game and they victory on Thursday in a game made big shots in the end.” that saw Rockets point guard In Los Angeles, the Clippers Chris Paul injured again. piled more road misery on the The Rockets, coming off an Dallas Mavericks with a 125-121 18-point victory over Wash- victory, snapping a four-game ington on Wednesday in which losing streak. Forward Danilo they set a single-game record Gallinari led the Clippers with 32 with 26 three-pointers, were points. Lou Williams added 26 leading 45-37 in the second off the bench as the Clippers quarter when Paul, diving to withstood 32 points from Mavs regain control of the ball, rookie Luka Doncic. clutched his left thigh and Dallas center DeAndre quickly left the game. Jordan, who played 10 seasons The Rockets said Paul had a for the Clippers, scored 11 points left hamstring strain and and pulled down 10 rebounds in wouldn’t return. his first game at Staples Center “It’ll be some time,” Rockets against his former team. coach Mike D’Antoni said of Paul, The Mavs trailed 89-82 who is scheduled for an MRI heading into the final period but exam on Friday. reeled off eight straight points to The defeat and injury were seize the lead. That was the first a double-blow for a Rockets of six lead changes in the final 10 team that had looked to be minutes. “Our intensity, our focus turning the corner after a slow on the game plan especially on start to the season. defense,” Gallinari said of what With five straight wins they ultimately made the difference had risen from 14th to seventh for the Clippers. in the Western Conference in the “Offensively we got Lou space of a week. But the loss of back, that’s very important for Paul could prove particularly us, especially in the fourth damaging. Houston Rockets guard Brandon Knight (2) guards Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) during their NBA game at American Airlines quarter -- very good game.” They lost games six and Arena on Thursday. Miami won 101-99. For the Mavs it was a fourth seven of the Western Conference straight defeat, three of those finals last season after Paul suf- for other guys to step up, keep lead with less than three minutes quarter to make two free throws Houston’s Gerald Green corralled coming on the road. Dallas, who fered a right hamstring injury. going.” remaining. that pulled Houston into a 90-89 a rebound. Eric Gordon have won just twice on the road “It’s part of the game,” Josh Richardson led the Heat James Harden led the lead. inbounded to Harden, who this season, continue their Harden said of adjusting to life with 22 points. Tyler Johnson Rockets with 35 points, 12 assists But the Rockets couldn’t passed back to Gordon whose bid current road trip with games without Paul. added 19 -- producing a layup, and six rebounds, climbing off hang on. Miami star Dwyane for a game-winning three- against two-time defending “You’ve got to figure it out. a big block and a three-pointer the floor after a frightening fall Wade missed jump shots on the pointer at the buzzer bounced champions Golden State and Injuries happen -- opportunities to pull the Rockets to a 96-92 midway through the fourth Heat’s last possession and off the rim. Portland.

Holmes, Wade Lightning top Flames in shoot-out seek rugby to NFL jump REUTERS including the game-winner in LOS ANGELES the third period, as Pittsburgh AFP slipped past visiting Minnesota. NEW YORK JT Miller scored the winner in the Jake Guentzel assisted on seventh round of a shoot-out, both Rust goals by creating turn- Australian rugby league and Louis Domingue was sensa- overs. Eight of Rust’s nine goals standout Valentine Holmes tional after regulation as the have come in the past six games. and English rugby union Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Jordan Greenway scored for the winger Christian Wade are host Calgary Flames 5-4 on Wild. among seven athletes Thursday. The Penguins, who were competing for a spot in the Miller was the offensive hero, coming off an emotional, 2019 NFL International Player but the biggest Lightning star physical win the night before at Pathway program. was Domingue, who stopped six Washington while Minnesota The league announced Flames during the shootout after cooled its heels that night in contenders late Wednesday making seven saves in overtime. Pittsburgh, have won four of for the chance to have inter- He finished the night with 33 their past five games and are national players improve saves. 7-3-1 in their past 11. their skills and make the most The Lightning are riding a Canadiens 2, Coyotes 1 of a chance to compete in the 10-0-1 run to sit atop the NHL Carey Price had 36 saves to NFL, with talent sought from standings. pick up his 300th career win and Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Aus- Calgary goalie David Rittich lead Montreal to a victory at tralia and the United made 32 saves for a team that is Glendale, Ariz. Kingdom. on a 9-2-2 run. The Flames have Paul Byron and Shea Weber Wade, Holmes, Brazil’s lost seven consecutive shootout both scored goals for Montreal, Dural Neto, Mexico’s games. which snapped a two-game Maximo Sanchez and Bruins 3, Ducks 1 losing streak. The Canadiens Germans David Bada, Mou- David Pastrnak had a goal were playing their third game in barak Djeri and Jakob and two assists as Boston four nights and the second half Johnson will start training defeated visiting Anaheim. The of a back-to-back that started in the United States in Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) skates toward the goal while being pressured by San Ducks, ranked 29th in the NHL with a 2-1 loss at Colorado on January and showcase skills Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun (61) during the third period of their NHL at SAP Center at San in scoring, were held to one goal Wednesday. before NFL scouts in March Jose on Thursday. for the second consecutive game. Oliver Ekman-Larsson with hopes of a free agent Torey Krug had a goal and scored the only goal for the signing or practice squad an assist, Brad Marchand had Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 Nelson each scored goals for Goaltender Carter Hart won Coyotes, who dropped their third spot for 2019. two assists and Jaroslav Halak saves to pick up his 424th career New York, which had a three- his second consecutive game straight game and lost for the Holmes, 23, sparked host made 24 saves, coming within victory as Vegas rallied to defeat game winning streak snapped. since joining the Flyers, making seventh time in eight games. Australia to last year’s Rugby 4:16 of his fourth shutout of the New York in Las Vegas. Thomas Greiss had 43 saves for 31 saves. He made his NHL debut Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 shots League World Cup title and season. Fleury moved past Tony the Islanders. Tuesday in a 3-2 victory over the but remained winless (0-5-1) in helped the Cronulla-Suth- Ducks rookie Josh Mahura Esposito into ninth place on the Flyers 2, Predators 1 Detroit Red Wings. his past six starts. erland Sharks win the 2016 ended the shutout bid with his NHL’s all-time wins list with the Jake Voracek and Claude Nick Bonino scored for the Jets 5, Sharks 3 National Rugby League first NHL goal. Anaheim’s John victory, his league-leading 20th Giroux each scored a goal to Predators, who dropped their Nikolaj Ehlers scored three Premiership. Gibson made 28 saves. of the season. Nate Schmidt and carry host Philadelphia to a win third in a row overall (0-2-1) and goals, including the go-ahead Seen as a rusher or Golden Knights 4, Islanders 2 Brandon Pirri also scored goals over Nashville. The Flyers moved ninth straight on the road tally at 16:53 of the third period, receiver, Holmes set test and William Karlsson and Paul for Vegas, which won its sixth to 2-0-0 since head coach Dave (0-7-2). as Winnipeg won at San Jose. World Cup records with five Stastny scored goals 63 seconds consecutive home game. Hakstol was fired and replaced Penguins 2, Wild 1 Dustin Byfuglien and Mason tries in a quarter-final win apart in the third period, and Mathew Barzal and Brock by Scott Gordon. Bryan Rust scored twice, Appleton also tallied for the Jets. over Samoa last year then broke his mark with six tries in a semi-final win over Fiji a week later. Wade, the oldest of the hopefuls at 27, scored 82 FA appoint Reed as new technical director English Premiership tries, third on the league’s all-time REUTERS he was leaving his position to “I am honoured to be of the most incredible year Cup and the Under-19 European list, from 2011 to 2018 with LONDON take up a similar role at Premier appointed as the FA’s technical and I have nothing but respect Championship last year. The Wasps and seeks a running League side Brighton and Hove director at such an exciting for the outstanding work of senior team reached the World back spot. The English Football Association Albion in the New Year. time for the game in this Dan Ashworth and all the Cup semi-finals in Russia this The German trio all (FA) has appointed former The 66-year-old, who is set country,” Reed, who was coaches and staff at St. year. played for American football Southampton vice-chairman Les to take charge in February, will sacked by Southampton in George’s Park.” he women’s team has sides in their homeland. Reed as its new technical be responsible for all elite November with the team strug- During Ashworth’s tenure enjoyed success as well, finishing Rusher Johnson, 24, moved director, it announced on Friday. England men’s sides from their gling in the Premier League, with the FA, which began in third at the 2015 World Cup in to Florida and played for four Reed replaces Dan Ash- development teams through to said in a statement. 2013, England won the Under-20 Canada and have qualified for years at tight end for worth, who said in September the senior squads. “We’re coming off the back World Cup, the Under-17 World next year’s finals in France. Tennessee. SATURDAY 22 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 19 Disgraced Smith is desperate to return

AFP had the opportunity to stop it and I culture was partly to blame for championship on Sunday at the SYDNEYSYS DNEY didn’t do it and that was my lead- players bending the rules. Sydney Cricket Ground. ership failure. But while it initially unleashed Smith has also had stints in Can- Disgraced SteveSte Smith “It was the potential for some- a torrent of vitriol against the ada’s Global T20 competition and (pictured)(pictured) admitted thing to happen and it went on and players, Smith’s tearful apology on in the Caribbean Premier League. yesterday he failed as a happened out in the field,” he arrival home tugged at the But he suffered a setback this captain by turning a added. heartstrings. week when he was barred from the blblindind eyeyee to the ball- “I had the opportunity to stop it Widely considered among the upcoming Bangladesh Premier tamperingtampering scandals and at that point rather than say, ‘I don’t finest batsmen in the world today, League T20 tournament on a said it has been hard want to know anything about it’. Smith admitted there had been technicality. wwatchingatching from the “And that was my failure of “dark days” as he grappled with his Some of the hardest times ssidelinesidel as leadership. And, you know, I’ve fall from grace. during his ban came when the AustraliaA u taken responsibility for that.” Ban- But with his suspension running diminished Australian team ststruggled in croft was banned for nine months out at the end of March, Smith now struggled in his absence. tthe while Smith’s vice-captain David can see light at the end of the tunnel “It’s been tough at times, par- aftermath.aft Warner was exiled for a year. and is desperate to return, with the ticularly when the boys haven’t TheThe former Speaking to the media in Aus- World Cup and the Ashes next year played their best in a couple of skipperskipp is still tralia for the first time since he in his sights. games, it’s been hard watching and servingservi a one- broke down in tears at a press con- “I’m just moving forward day knowing that I can’t go out and help year ban from ference following the scandal in to day, and doing what I need to do them,” he said. thethe inteinternational March, Smith said it was the only to prepare to hopefully get another “But I was really proud of the and domedomestic game incident of ball-tampering that he opportunity to play for Australia,” way they played last week in Perth for his partpa in the knows about. he said. (during the second Test against incident thatthat rocked the “In any game you play you want “And if that’s World Cup and India, which they won). cricket world,world in which the ball to try and move, but obvi- Ashes, so be it. And no doubt the “I thought they were magnif- sandpaper was ususede to try and ously you want to do it in a legal English crowd will be incredibly icent. I think Tim Paine’s lead- rough up the ball in SoSouth Africa. way,” he said. hostile. I’m ready for that, if that ership has been exceptional since Asked what wentwent on in the The scandal had far-reaching happens.” taking over as captain,” Smith cchanginghanging rooms aatt CaCape Town consequences with a clean-out of He has spent the time away added. before Cameron BancrBancroftoft attempted top executives from Cricket Aus- playing for his grade cricket club “He’s obviously faced difficult to cheatcheat,, he said: “For me in the tralia after a scathing review said Sutherland, which he captained to circumstances to begin with, and room,room, I walked past somethingsom and its “arrogant and controlling” the New South Wales Premier T20 he’s done a terrific job.” Raman named Indian Incoming PCB official hopeful women’s team coach of Australia visit in 2019

AFP blackmail officials. The row erupted after REUTERS “I will ask the question,” Bir- boards and ask them: where are the NEW DELHI Raj, the highest run scorer in the women’s KARACHI mingham-born Khan told gaps in our plans that worry you? international game, was left out of the team ESPNcricinfo. What can we do to assure you? What Former India batsman W.V. Raman has for the semi-final against England in the Incoming Pakistan Cricket Board “We will continue to offer them will it take to get you to come back? been appointed head coach of the women’s recent Twenty20 World Cup. The Indians (PCB) managing director Wasim the highest level security and, if they I want to hear what concerns they cricket team, days after an acrimonious lost the game by eight wickets. Khan has said he hopes Australia will have any concerns, we will act to have and find a way of meeting row over a star player’s omission from the India are currently third in the come to the South Asian nation to meet them.” them.” Twenty20 World Cup. women’s world ODI rankings and fifth play at least part of a one-day series Sri Lanka returned to Pakistan English county teams would be Former South African cricketer Gary in the T20s. currently scheduled to take place in in 2017 for a one-off Twenty20, invited to use the PCB academy in Kirsten was the top choice but the Board The 53-year-old Raman, who will be the United Arab Emirates in March. while West Indies played a three- Lahore for pre-season training, said of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the fourth coach of the women’s team in Most cricket nations have match Twenty20 series in Karachi Khan, who remains Leicestershire he was ineligible due to an ongoing Indian 20 months, welcomed his appointment. avoided touring Pakistan since 2009 in April this year. chief executive until the end of Premier League (IPL) contract. “Thanks you all folks, for the wishes when gunmen attacked a bus car- Khan said he wanted to speak January. Raman, who played 11 Tests, replaces and your kind words. Means a lot,” he rying Sri Lankan cricketers, injuring with other boards to see how he “We have excellent facilities. We Ramesh Powar whose term ended abruptly tweeted. six players and killing six security could help get regular international have a great passion for the game. last month after Indian star Mithali Raj Kirsten, who led the India men’s team personnel and two civilians. cricket back to Pakistan. If we can get more foreign players accused him of bias and trying to destroy to success at the 2011 World Cup, is head Australia have not toured “It will probably be a process of coming to Pakistan more often, her career. coach of IPL side Royal Challengers Pakistan since 1998 but Khan hopes baby steps,” Khan said. hopefully we can normalise playing Powar in turn accused Raj of trying to Bangalore. they can be persuaded to play there. “I need to sit down with other in the country again.”

Guardiola dismisses Klopp’s claim that City have no weaknesses

AFP collected just one point from MANCHESTER their past six away matches. Yet they have started to climb away Pep Guardiola yesterday from the relegation zone after dismissed Jurgen Klopp’s home wins over Burnley and suggestion that Manchester City Leicester. are a team with no sign of Palace have lost on all their weakness as the two battle for seven visits to the Etihad and the Premier League title. have suffered defeat in each of Guardiola’s City and Klopp’s their past nine away games Liverpool appear increasingly against City, a run going back to be the two main contenders to the days of Maine Road. in the title race, as the season Palace, though, did end approaches its halfway point. City’s run of 18 consecutive With few slip-ups from league wins on December 31 last either side, their meeting at the season with a 0-0 draw at Sel- Etihad Stadium on January 3 hurst Park, and might have won looks a potentially significant had goalkeeper Ederson not moment in the battle for first saved an injury-time penalty place -- a position held by from Luka Milivojevic. unbeaten Liverpool going into Roy Hodgson’s side Players of China’s national football team attend a training session as they prepare for the 2019 edition of the AFC Asian Cup, in the weekend’s fixtures. deserved he goalless draw they Doha yesterday. Yet Klopp claimed this week earned on their previous visit that the only team that can stop to Manchester, against United Guardiola’s men from defending at Old Trafford on November their title are City themselves. 24, and Guardiola is wary of Barcelona’s defensive problems fester Guardiola, though, says his players such as Wilfried Zaha, team are fallible and can point Max Meyer, Andros Townsend AFP But after Thomas Vermaelen, their experiencing a predictably up-and-down to the fact that they lost their and Milivojevic. MADRID fourth-choice central defender, hobbled debut season, and Pique, who has season’s unbeaten league “They have quality players off with a calf strain, the Barca board improved in recent weeks, but started the record at Chelsea this month as in Zaha, Townsend, Meyer, Barcelona’s title charge has been riddled moved on Thursday to sign on loan season off the pace, like a 31-year-old with proof. Milivojevic,” he said. “They have with defensive problems and just as they Colombian international Jeison Murillo his sharpest days behind him. “Any team has strong points an incredible experienced looked to have found stability, another one despite the 26-year-old having played only “It can’t be that we concede every and weak points,” said the City manager. I saw the game landed at their feet. one La Liga match all season. game,” Messi said in October. “We have to manager. “Of course we have against Chelsea (on November Their 5-0 win over Levante last Ernesto Valverde had already switched be stronger defensively. We are following weaknesses. We are working on 4, when Palace lost 3-1), and it weekend may have been a triumph for to three at the back after Nelson Semedo a year when it was very hard to score it, but that’s normal. These kind was so difficult to attack them. attacking fluency, not to mention Lionel withdrew last-minute due to pain in his against us.” Barca are still three points clear of comments have to be put in “After winning 18 games in Messi, who scored a hat-trick, but more knee. at the top of the table, although 11th in perspective.” Guardiola’s side, a row, you have to draw once surprising was the clean sheet, their third And now Vermaelen is expected out terms of goals conceded and, given Real who are at home to Crystal eventually, that’s normal. We in a row in the league for the first time for at least a month while Samuel Umtiti, Madrid have changed coach and Atletico Palace today, were a point off played decent in the first half since March. Pique’s principal partner, is in Qatar, Madrid won just one away game all season, the top of the table. that day. But in the second half “We are on a positive run,” Gerard hoping to find a solution to his own nig- they might have hoped for a heftier Palace are 15th in the they were much better and Pique said. “We are playing better, con- gling injury to his knee. The Frenchman’s cushion. In the past, Valverde could have Premier League and have missed a penalty. ceding less and scoring goals, it’s all very return date is unknown. looked within for cover but Barca’s youth positive.” That leaves Clement Lenglet, who is ranks are not as prolific as they once were.