SPORTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013

Afghanistan calls for support from cricket nations

ISLAMABAD: Having qualified for its first World Cup, nothing happens.” Murad has also approached Sri Lanka fully it will come soon,” he said. 5 event - the lowest ranked ICC tournament. According to Afghanistan needs more support from the traditional through the International Cricket Council without any The ICC has chalked out a comprehensive plan for Murad, the country of 30 million has 280,000 registered Asian cricketing nations in order to develop its national success while he’s also still waiting for a response from both World Cup qualifiers - Ireland and Afghanistan players, who either play with taped tennis balls or the team further, according to a top official of the India. “I’m not going to wait anymore and will approach which include tours to European countries. leather cricket balls. “We have quite a number of talented Afghanistan Cricket Board. Afghanistan defeated Kenya each of these countries again and again, especially Sri Yesterday, the ICC said in a statement that it will give youngsters and you might see three to four new legs by seven wickets in a decisive qualifier on Friday to reach Lanka, Pakistan and India because we don’t have hope $1 million to the ACB as preparation fee for the World when the team plays in the World Cup,” Murad said. the 2015 World Cup, setting off mass celebrations in the from Bangladesh anymore,” Murad said. “We are very dis- Cup. The game’s governing body also gave $422,000 to He said Afghanistan has around nine grounds with country. But ACB chief executive Noor Mohammad appointed the way Bangladesh has been handling us. I the ACB in April as part of its Targeted Assistance and turf pitches. There are two main stadiums in the capital Murad criticized the traditional Asian cricket powers on think Afghanistan is in a very good position to play with Performance Program, aimed at raising playing stan- Kabul and Jalalabad while cities in north like Mazar-i- Saturday for failing to help the team over the past years, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and even beat them in some dards. Next year, the ACB is also scheduled to receive fur- Sharif and Kunduz also have grounds with turf pitches. saying India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have all failed to matches because of the talent we are having.” ther $750,000 in base support through the ICC And the base of cricket is also expanding in Afghanistan respond to his requests to set up games. Pakistan has not hosted any foreign team since gun- Development Funding Policy. The ACB is also in negotia- with 32 provincial teams and five regional teams, playing He said Pakistan is the only Asian country to support men attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore four years tions with Zimbabwe to play a one-day series and Murad in one-dayers, Twenty20 and three-day matches. the Afghans, despite dealing with its own security prob- ago. Murad sees Afghanistan as a country which could hopes that will be finalized in the coming months. Now Afghanistan is also planning to host Tajikistan - lems. Pakistan’s second-string team played a one-day attract large crowds if Pakistan organizes a full-fledged Afghanistan has also tried to play in the Asia Cup - a an affiliate member of the ICC. “We have donated some series against Afghanistan last year and the Pakistan one-day or Twenty20 series against Afghanistan in a city 50-over format tournament - for the last four years, but so cricket equipment to them and we will be inviting their Cricket Board allowed a team from Afghanistan to play in like Lahore. “If you give proper advocacy to these match- far they have been kept out of the event. national team to play against our A teams and regionals its domestic Twenty20 tournament. Murad was especially es I think hundreds of thousands of (Afghan) refugees liv- “Australia and England are providing a chance to teams,” Murad said. critical of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. ing in Pakistan will come and watch the match,” he said. European countries by playing against Scotland and Murad is seeing Friday’s historic qualification to the “I’m very disappointed in the way we have not been “Afghanistan can give a tough time to the Pakistan team - Ireland so it’s the responsibility of the Asian countries to World Cup as the beginning of a new journey for provided a chance by Bangladesh,” Murad said. “I’ve been especially in ODIs and Twenty20s and you will give a at least allow us to play in Asia Cup,” Murad said. “I’ve Afghanistan. “I was telling to my boys in the meeting yes- approaching them since one and half years, but no good message to the world that it is still a very good raised this issue in the AGM (Annual General Meeting) of terday that it’s not the end, in fact it’s the start of a new response. I’ve met their chairman, I’ve met their COOs international venue.” Murad said he has presented the the ICC but I’ve not been provided any answer.” phase because we’ve been beating associate members (Chief Operating Officers), I mean all their officials. In the idea to both the ICC and Pakistan cricket officials. “I am Afghanistan’s remarkable journey to the World Cup with good margins and that is a good indication that we meeting I try to convince them but after the meeting still waiting for a response from the Pakistan side, hope- qualification began in 2008 when it played in the Division can do better playing against a full member.” — AP Braves hold Dodgers at bay

ATLANTA: The Braves are supposed to be a everything, but we’re down 2-1,” Mattingly team that relies on strong pitching and home said. “Yeah, you always look back at everything. runs. Instead, Atlanta evened its NL division You could have done this, you could have series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with done that. I think you look at it honestly and clutch defense as the complement for Mike see what you think.” Minor’s strong start. Heyward said he understood the strategy. Jason Heyward drove in two runs with a “Play the matchups,” Heyward said. “That’s bases-loaded single in the seventh, Minor what the postseason is about. You go lefty- allowed only one run and the Braves turned lefty there. three double plays in their 4-3 win over Los “I’m glad to have an opportunity to come Angeles on Friday night. The defense delivered through big for my team right there. I got a another key play in the ninth when catcher pitch and didn’t miss it.” Minor allowed one run Gerald Laird threw out pinch-runner Dee on eight hits and one walk in 6 1-3 innings. Gordon trying to steal second base. The Braves’ last double play ended the sev- The series shifts to Los Angeles tied 1-1. The enth after the Dodgers had runners on first Braves knew they couldn’t afford a second and third with one out following a pinch-hit straight home loss. “We definitely didn’t want infield single by Michael Young. to lose two games in front of our home crowd,” Reliever Luis Avilan fielded a grounder by said Chris Johnson, who had two hits, includ- Carl Crawford and made a quick and accurate ing a fourth-inning single that gave Atlanta a throw to shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who 2-1 lead. then fired to first to complete the double play. ATLANTA: Dee Gordon No. 9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dives back to first base as Craig Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez drove in Simmons said he didn’t expect Ayala to Kimbrel No. 46 throws to Freddie Freeman No. 5 of the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning three runs with three hits, including a two-run come to second with his throw. “I was hoping during Game Two of the National League Division Series. — AFP homer in the eighth that cut the Braves’ lead to he’d go home,” Simmons said. “He kind of one run. The homer added more value to caught (the grounder) a little weird and I was second and third innings follow leadoff singles when Uribe grounded out to hit the eighth. Heyward’s two-run single in the seventh. scared he was going to make a bad throw. He by Juan Uribe and Crawford, respectively. Kimbrel hit 100 mph again in the ninth when BOSTON: Ryan Dempster No. 46 of the Boston Red Sox With the Braves leading 2-1, Dodgers man- made a good throw and it was a good play.” David Carpenter almost lost the 4-1 lead in he struck out Skip Schumaker before walk- pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game One of ager Don Mattingly ordered an intentional Simmons jumped in the air after making the eighth. Carpenter walked Mark Ellis to ing A.J. Ellis. Gordon, running for Ellis, was the American League Division Series. — AFP walk to pinch-hitter Reed Johnson, loading the the throw to first as Ayala pumped his fist on open the inning before Ramirez made contact called out on the close play trying to steal bases for Heyward. Mattingly wanted left-han- the mound and Minor applauded in the on an awkward, lunging swing for a two-run second. der Paco Rodriguez to face Heyward, a left- dugout. homer that landed in the first row of the left- Mattingly said after watching a replay he Red Sox thrash handed hitter. “We played good defense,” said Braves field seats. thought Gordon was safe. Said Gordon: “I really Heyward drilled a two-run single up the manager Fredi Gonzalez, who said Avilan Ramirez also had two doubles, including don’t want to talk about it. You guys saw the middle for a 4-1 lead. Mattingly said Rodriguez made a bold throw. “You see a lot of those one that drove in a run in the first. Carpenter replay. ... I felt like everything was good. Rays in ALDS “is a guy we think gets Heyward out. Been get- plays end up in center field,” Gonzalez said. recovered to strike out Adrian Gonzalez and Simmons blocked the bag and I felt like I got ting those guys out all year long for us.” The Zack Greinke allowed two runs on only four Yasiel Puig. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez under it. “I need to do better at my job and BOSTON: One ball fell between two outfielders. Another took a decision to face Heyward instead of Johnson hits and no walks in 6 innings. Right-hander brought in closer Craig Kimbrel for the final make sure I’m safe next time.” Kimbrel walked bad hop off the Green Monster standings. One batter reached left room for second-guessing. Chris Withrow allowed two runs in the seventh. four outs. pinch-hitter Andre Ethier before striking out safely on a dropped third strike and another when the pitcher was “I mean, you think you obviously look at The Braves also turned double plays in the Kimbrel’s fastball was clocked at 100 mph Crawford to end the game. — AP slow to cover first. By the time it was over, the Boston Red Sox had scored five runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of Tampa Bay’s bad luck and bad defense to overcome an early deficit and beat the Rays 12-2 on Friday in Game 1 of the AL division series. “You play 162 games, a lot of innings, a lot of pitches, a lot of runs. One thing you can guarantee in the playoffs is you’re going to see something you haven’t seen all year,” said Jonny Gomes, who doubled to tie the game and then scored from second on an infield single to give Boston the lead for good. “And we saw that right away.” Needing a 163rd game to earn a wild-card berth, the Rays won three win-or-go-home games in three different cities to reach this series. Now they need a victory in Game 2 on Saturday to tie the best-of-five series before it shifts to St. Petersburg, Fla., for Games 3 and 4. “We’ve been playing very well. We’ve not been making any mistakes. We made a bunch tonight,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “But I’ve also learned one other thing regarding baseball: 24 hours can make a huge difference. That’s just one game, baby. That’s just one. We’ll be back tomorrow, I promise you. We’ll be ready to play. We will not be affected mentally by tonight’s game.” Jon Lester allowed three hits in 7 2-3 innings for the AL East champions, giving up solo homers to Sean Rodriguez and Ben Zobrist to spot the Rays a 2-0 lead through the top of the fourth. Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore had still not given up a hit. But Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom half with a single up the Bahrain, Kuwait draw, Qatar win middle, and then David Ortiz hit a high fly ball that center fielder Desmond Jennings and right fielder Wil Myers converged on. The Kuwait holds 17th meeting on women sports in GCC Rays rookie raised his right hand to call off Jennings but let it fall behind him and bounce off the warning track and into the KUWAIT: Bahrain held Kuwait to a 19-19 Meanwhile, the 17th meeting of the In the second match, despite their heavy bullpen for a double. draw in the dying minutes of the match of organizational committee of women sports loss to Qatar, Oman’s players performed well “I was under the ball and I saw Des out of the corner of my eye the 1st GCC women handball tournament in GCC was held Friday and discussed sever- and had the Qataris in critical situations sev- and backed off,” Myers said. “I messed it up, and it won’t happen while Qatar accumulated the highest score al issues regarding women sports. eral times. again. ... That play kind of gave them a spark, and a good team so far defeating Oman 31-15. The committee, chaired by Sheikha Oman’s head of delegation Fatima Al- takes advantage of it.” Kuwait had the opportunity to emerge Naeema Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, approved the Ferari said considering the experience of a With a derisive cheer of “Myers” echoing through the ballpark, victorious, as it controlled the match and 2014-2015 schedule including the second team that is in existence for 10 years (Qatar), Mike Napoli popped up to second base for the first out before ended the first half with the score of 11-6. women basketball tournament to be held in and another which is a year old. We feared a Gomes hit a fly ball that scraped the left-field wall on the way Bahrain opted for defence to halt Kuwait’s Kuwait May 3-7, 2015. huge defeat, but “our players overcame the down. Pedroia held to tag up, then scored easily with Ortiz com- attacks at the start of the match, but Kuwait The committee formed the Gulf informa- challenge. She said our players are young ing in just a few steps behind him to make it 2-2. maintained a six goal lead in most of the tion committee to supervise all news related and will learn in time. Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out before Stephen Drew hit a second half. The final minutes witnessed a to women sports and Sanaa Al-Busaeedi was Qatar’s Ahlam Al-Mane congratulated her slow hopper to first that James Loney fielded and flicked to Bahraini comeback that resulted in a draw. appointed president. The committee includ- team adding that the team prepared for the Moore. But the pitcher’s foot came down a split second after Both teams are now in a critical phase as ed women soccer in the 4th GCC women’s tournament with a camp, and we are happy Drew’s; with Moore facing the wrong way, Gomes never slowed they meet Oman and Qatar respectively. sports tournament to be held in Oman. to have a tournament for GCC women. down as he rounded third and scored without a throw. Will Middlebrooks followed with a line drive to left that took a bad hop off the Monster where the AL East standings are posted, and it got past Rodriguez on the rebound. That allowed Drew to score and make it 4-2, while Middlebrooks went into second with a double. Jacoby Ellsbury reached on a passed ball on strike three - which would have been the third out of the inning - and Middlebrooks moved to third, where he scored on Shane Victorino’s single to make it 5-2. None of the misplays was scored an error. “That Myers play obviously gave us some momentum,” Victorino said. “All those kind of things and it became a snowball effect. Plays like that happen. You’ve got to thrive and you’ve got to get as many runs as you can when a mistake like that is made.” The Red Sox added three more runs to chase Moore in the fifth inning, when they sent nine batters to the plate - the first time in franchise history they have batted around in consecutive innings in a postseason game. In all, Moore was charged with eight runs - seven earned - on eight hits, two walks a hit batter and a wild pitch, striking out four in 4 1-3 innings. Lester struck out the first four batters he faced, but gave up homers over the Monster to Rodriguez in the second and Zobrist in the fourth. In all, he allowed three hits and three walks while striking out seven before leaving with two on and two out in the eighth.