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Home , 2021 Spanish Grand Prix, Abid Ali (cricketer), Carlos Sainz, Fawad Alam, Kevin Kasuza, Nauman Ali

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SUNDAYS 9 MAY 2021 FormulaF One: Hamilton tops qualifying aat for 100th pole GreatG job! That was hard work. I can’t believe we're at 100. It is really down to the men and women at the factory who are continuouslyc raising the bar.

LewisL Hamilton Sport |15 NBA: Bulls 121, Celtics 99; Heat 121, Timberwolves 112; Suns 128, Knicks 105; Trail Blazers 106, Lakers 101; 76ers 109, Pelicans 107 Al Sadd, Al Arabi ready for semi-final

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

There may be no fans at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium tonight but there will be no dearth of excitement when reigning champions Al Sadd will take on Al Arabi in the first semi-final of the Amir Cup. The match pitting the last edition’s finalists will kick off at 10pmpg tonight behind closed doorsdoors amiamidd tthehe COVID-19 ppan-an- demic.demic. AAll SaSadddd eedgeddged AAll AraArabibi 2-1 in the 2020 Amir Cup final lastlast DDecemberecember at tthehe bbrandrand nnewew AhmedAAhmed Bin AliAli StadiumStadium – a FIFA WorldWorld CuCupp 2022 venue. TheThe recordrecord 17-17-timetime Amir CupCup championschampions AlAl Sadd area re returningreturning to actionaction aafterfter sufferingsuffering a setbacksetback at thethe AFCAFC CCham-ham- pionspions LeagueLeague Al Arabi's players in action during a training session ahead of the first Amir Cup semi-final against where theythey Al Sadd. RIGHT: Al Sadd's players attend a training session. The match will kick off at 10pm tonight. missedm i ssed knockoutk nockout with other rivals. Their head tance ofof thisthis matchmatch against Al outstanding form this domestic the news of my exit from the tournament last season and we stagestage aafterfter a coach HernandezHernandez,, who Arabi as we want to qualify for season winning the QNB Stars team is just rumours. I am very hope to repeat that achievement close fightfight rrebuffedebuffed rereportsports of his the final and win the AAmir Cup,” League (QSL) and Qatar Cup, happy to work with the players again,” said Hallgrímsson. He departure from Xavi saidsaid yyesterday.esterday. and Xavi said the team is aiming and the club.” stressed a smart plan needs to thethe clubclub aafterfter tthehe “The“The team is veryvery excited for to conclude the season with a Meanwhile, Al Arabi coach be implemented in a semi-final ongoingongoing season, the semi-final and thet players title-triumph. Heimir Hallgrímsson against tough Al Sadd. saidsaid yesterday are looking forward tot give their “Our aim now is to win the admittedadmitted hihiss teamteam “For“For sucsuchh mamatches,tches, moramoralele iiss thatthat hhisis team’s best.best. TheThe plplayersayers hahave trained Amir Cup and conclude the facesfaces a tough chachal-l- veryvery important andand we must playplay completecomplete forfor thethe matchmatch withwith a lot of season with a major trophy no lengelenge aagainstgainst AAll SaSadddd smartlysmartly andand we kknownow ttheirheir wawayy focus iiss nnowow passion,”passion,” he added. matter what happened at the butbut reposedreposed confi-confi- of playing. Al Sadd have elite on winning SpeakingSpeaking about his team’s AFC Champions League. But we ddenceence in hishis playersplayers in aallll positions – ffromrom thethe AmirAmir performanceperformance at thethe AFCA Cham- have a strong Al Arabi team plplayersayers goalkeepergoalkeeper to strikers.strikers. Therefore,Therefore, Cup,Cup, con-con- pionspions LeLeague,ague, Xavi said yes- against us in the semi-final and aheadahead of we mmustust dealdeal tthemhem in a ssmartmart sideredsidered as terday:terday: “We got outo of the we must put up a strong per- thet h e way.way. We relyrely on a gogoodod tactic,” AAll thethe mostmost Champions League becauseb of formance against them,” he semi-final.semi-final. ArabiArabi coachcoach adadded.ded. prestigiousprestigious oneone goalgoal (difference).(difference We did added. “We TheThe seconsecondd semi-finalsemi-final ooff thethe footballf ootball not prpresentesent the bestbe but we The legend said hahaveve a dif-dif- AmirAmir Cup willwill bbee playedplayed trophytrophy in werewere not veryvery bbad.a This is there is no truth about his ficultficult mmatchatch wiwithth AlAl between Al Rayyan and Al Qatar.Qatar. “We football.football. WWee mmustust nnowo focus on departure from the club saying: SaddSadd anandd we havehave to DuhailDuhail tomorrowtomorrow at thethe samesame knowknow tthehe thethe Amir Cup.”Cup.” “I am very close to signing a winwin thethe game.game. We qual-qual- venue whilewhile tthehe ffinalinal wiwillll bbee impor-impor- Al Sadd have been in new contract with Al Sadd and ifiedified fofor or the t e finalfinal a of o the t e playedplp ayed oonn May 1414.. Neymar extends PSG contract until 2025

REUTERS — PARIS “The truth is that I’m very happy Manchester Cityy 4-1 on aaggregate.ggregate. to be a part of the club’s project, to try Neymar’s performancesperformances at PSG Brazil forward Neymar (pictured) has and win titles, to try and achieve our The core of our ambitious project to have been inconsistent,onsistent, treating the signed a new contract with Paris St biggest dream which is the Champions grow PSG is the heart, talent and fans to momentsnts ofof brilliancebrilliance but Germain that will keep him in the League.” dedication of our players. We are very failing to shine iinn Champions LeagueLeague French capital until 2025, the Ligue 1 PSG have spent around €1.3bn on happy to see him continue as part of knockout games.es. club said yesterday. new players since being taken over by The Brazilianan has scored 85 goals The 29-year-old Neymar, who Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) before our project and to be alongside us for in 112 appearancesnces for PSG, winninwinningg joined PSG in 2017 from Spanish club the 2011-12 season and they have won many years to come. a host of trophieshies includingincluding three Barcelona for a record transfer fee of seven of the last nine Ligue 1 titles. league titles. €222m ($270m), has agreed a deal “The core of our ambitious project Nasser Al Khelaifi PSG are alsoso looking to extend French media reported will earn him to grow PSG is the heart, talent and PSG President Kylian Mbappe’ss deal as the 2222-year--year- an annual salary of €30m. dedication of our players,” PSG Pres- old striker’sker’s contract expiresexpires Neymar said he wanted to leave ident Nasser Al Khelaifi said. at the end of nextxt seasoseason.n. PSG in 2019 amid media reports he “We are very happy to see him In his first PSG news conference PSG are secondecond in the Ligue 1 was keen on returning to Barcelona, continue as part of our project and to in two years last week, Neymar said standings, fourur points behindbehind but he stayed in Paris and helped PSG be alongside us for many years to was very happy at the club, hinting at leaders Lille aheadead of their ggameame reach the Champions League final last come.” a possible contract extension. in hand at Stade Rennais today. season. Coach Mauricio Pochettino added: He was, however, unable to help There will be ttwowo mmatchesatches “I’m very happy to be extending “I think that today the whole PSG the team reach a second successive remaining this sseasoneason after my contract with Paris until 2025,” family is happy that Neymar has Champions League final as PSG were this weekend’se k e n d ’ s Neymar told the PSG website. extended his contract.” knocked out in the semi-finals by matches. Al Shaqab Racing’s Umran continues winning spree

THE PENINSULA — DAX, Prix Du Petit Chantilly, a FRANCE maiden for three-year-olds over 1,800 metres. The Mat- Victorious at Mons on April 1, thieu Brasme-trained filly Umran (FR) again made the began her career with a Al Shaqab Racing colours second place at Montluçon on proud by winning the Prix April 18. The battle for the Djerba Oua at Dax, France lead was very competitive in yesterday. The Elisabeth the last strides between her Bernard runner, having bene- and Particuliere Dream, but fited from Gary Sanchez’s Nagano, with Tristan Baron claim, initially stalked the Riders in action at Prix Du Petit Chantilly. in the saddle, Tristan Baron leader Ainhoa Damili. managed to snatch victory by After taking the latter’s a nose. measure 400m from the post, year. Bred by Al Shaqab de Cardonne) and Grilla Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, he was not hard pressed to Racing, Umran is from the (Kong). NAGANO is a daughter of that contain the attack of His- first crop of Mister Ginoux. Al Shaqab Racing’s concern’s sire Olympic Glory pahan. Umran eventually won Dixie Darlene (Wiking), the Nagano wins Prix Du Petit and Barenia (Zamindar). The the 7f Class 3 run for 4YO+ dam, won a Gr PA 3 race in Chantilly latter has already produced a Purebred Arabians by a the US, and she has foaled no Al Shaqab Racing’s previous winner, Rosehill length. This marked the four- less than three Gr 1 PA homebred Nagano (FR) (). Barenia is cur- Nagano in action yesterday. year-old colt’s third win as he winners, Dixies Delight (Sam opened her account at the rently plying her trade as a also shone in Toulouse last Tiki), Dixies Valentine (Nivour second attempt, winning the broodmare in Qatar. Sport SUNDAY 9 MAY 2021 15

Most All-time Hamilton tops qualifying at Winners

100_x-, Britain Spanish GP for 100th pole 68_Michael Schumacher, GermaGermanyny 65_Ayrton Senna, Brazil 57_x-, Germanymany AP - MONTMELÓ, SPAIN 33_Jim Clark, Britain 33_Alain Prost, France Lewis Hamilton reached 32_Nigel Mansell, Britain another Formula One milestone 30_Nico Rosberg, Germanyy yesterday when the British 29_Juan Manuel Fangio, Argentinagentina driver steered his way to a 26_Mika Hakkinen, Finlandd record-extending 100th pole 24_Niki Lauda, Austria position. 24_Nelson Piquet, Brazil Hamilton powered his Mer- x-active cedes to the top time in quali- fying for the Spanish Grand Prix with a flying lap that beat out top rival by just 0.03 seconds. That smidgen of a second could translate into a big edge today. Hamilton will aim to maintain his dominance of the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during the press conference after qualifying in pole position for the and increase the eight-point race with second-position winner ’s Max Verstappen and third-placed Mercedes’ Valtteri advantage he has over Ver- Bottas at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. stappen following three races. “Great job! That was hard work,” Hamilton told his team people who have helped me, all A Mercedes has won pole at past four years. He broke Schu- over the radio after shouting out the men and women in the fac- the 4.6-kilometer (2.9-mile) macher’s record of 91 wins last to celebrate hitting the tories who continually raise the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit year. mark. bar. every year since 2013, including And then he will try for the Hamilton’s teammate “It is crazy that it has been front-row lockouts in each of biggest prize of all: surpassing was right behind 100, but it felt like one of the those years except for 2017. Schumacher’s record of seven in third, followed by Ferrari’s first, and for me that is special. Hamilton has now taken six of world championships that he Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton after finishing in pole position alongside and Esteban And we are so close. That is those poles. equalled last season. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in third position at Circuit de Barcelona- Ocon in his Alpine. what excites me.” Hamilton’s milestone Verstappen, however, also Hamilton said that the Verstappen said he had to increases the distance between has good memories from the Catalunya, Barcelona. 100th gives him the same sat- be pleased by being so close to his mark and Michael Schu- Spanish GP where he got his isfaction and rush as the first Hamilton’s Mercedes, but he macher’s 68 poles in second maiden win at age 18 in 2016. Verstappen’s partner, Sergio Ferrari and McLaren’s Daniel one did back in 2007, when he admitted that starting behind place all-time. Red Bull has closed the gap Pérez, had the only mishap in Ricciardo. raced for McLaren. He has won Hamilton will make victory It is promising to be a with Mercedes, with Verstappen an otherwise clean qualifying McLaren’s other driver, 74 poles since joining Mercedes tough. season full of milestones for the and Hamilton finished either session. , will start from in 2013. “We know how hard it is to 36-year-old Hamilton. first or second in all three races He lost control of his Red ninth. Norris is the surprise of “The 100 mark, I don’t think overtake and follow close here, It appears to be just a matter this year. Bull and slid backward off the the season and is in a distant anyone, not even me, thought but I am always optimistic and of weeks before Hamilton also Hamilton won the season track, smoke belching from the third place in the standings. that I would get to that positive that we can do a good hits 100 Grand Prix victories. opener in and last tires. Alpine’s number,” Hamilton said race, and I hope that it is as Today, he will be aiming for week’s race in Portugal. Ver- Pérez managed the eighth- will close out the top 10 on the yesterday. close as today,” Verstappen a 98th career victory - on a stappen won the season’s best time yesterday, right starting grid in the Spaniard’s “But I think about all the said. track where he was won for the second race in . behind Carlos Sainz in his first home race since 2018. Ali hits a double century Coates says as take control Tokyo Games will AP - SCOREBOARD Pakistan, first innings 1 (2nb, 1w), Jongwe 17-1-68-1, Tiripano 22-5-83-1 (2w), ’s maiden Test double Imran Butt c Tiripano b Ngarava ...... 2 Chisoro 40.1-7-131-2, Shumba 15-1-73-0 go ahead century and ’s 97 Abid Ali ...... 215 , first innings carried Pakistan to 510-8 declared c Shumba b Muzarabani ...... 126 K. Kasuza b ...... 4 c Kasuza b Muzarabani ...... 2 T. Musakanda lbw b Tabish Khan ...... 0 REUTERS - SYDNEY against an overwhelmed Fawad Alam b Muzarabani ...... 5 R. Chakabva not out ...... 28 Zimbabwe host on day two of the Sajid Khan c Chakabva b Tiripano ...... 20 B. Taylor c M. Rizwan b Shaheen ...... 9 second Test yesterday. Mohammad Rizwan c Ngarava b Chisoro ....21 M. Shumba lbw b Sajid Khan ...... 2 Top Olympic official John Zimbabwe, already in deep Hasan Ali c Chakabva b Jongwe ...... 0 T. Chisoro not out...... 1 Coates said yesterday that trouble after nearly two days in the Nauman Ali st Chakabva b Chisoro ...... 97 Extras (b4, lb3, w1) ...... 8 while Japanese sentiment field, was 52-4 in reply by stumps, Extras (b7, lb8, nb2, w5) 22 Total (4 wkts, 30 overs) ...... 52 turning against the Tokyo Total (8 wkts decl, 147.1 overs) ...... 510 To bat: R. Kaia, L. Jongwe, D. Tiripano, B. Muzarabani, R. Ngarava trailing by 458 runs, and at risk of Did not bat: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan. Fall of : 1-0 (Musakanda), 2-23 (Kasuza), 3-40 Games was a “concern”, he losing the Test inside three days by Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Butt), 2-248 (Azhar), 3-252 (Ba- (Taylor), 4-47 (Shumba) could foresee no scenario an innings, as it did in the first Test bar), 4-264 (Fawad), 5-303 (Sajid), 6-340 (Rizwan), 7-341 Bowling: 9-3-16-1 (1w), Tabish Khan 10- under which the sporting last week. (Hasan), 8-510 (Nauman) 3-22-1, Hasan Ali 6-3-7-1, Nauman Ali 2-2-0-0, Sajid Khan showpiece would not go Pakistan’s Abid Resuming the day on 268-4, Bowling: Muzarabani 29-6-82-3 (1w), Ngarava 24-5-58- 3-3-0-1 ahead. Ali celebrates opener Abid Ali moved from 118 to Questions have been 215 not out with 29 boundaries on Abid Ali had faced 407 balls and Opener Tarisai Musakanda scoring a double raised about the viability of a pitch which didn’t offer much batted for more than 10 1/2 hours. went for a with just one run century against staging the Games in July and assistance to the home bowlers. The declaration after tea came on the board as 36-year-old Zimbabwe on August with Tokyo in a state Abid Ali looked more at home with the fall of tail-ender Nauman seamer Tabish Khan, on debut, got the second day of emergency as Japan con- than Zimbabwe, and milked the Ali, just three runs short of his his first Test in his first over, of the second tinues to struggle to contain bowlers for singles and twos with maiden Test century. He was lbw with a full length . and final Test the COVID-19 pandemic. ease on his way to becoming Paki- by Regis Chakabva off the Kevin Kasuza was bowled at Harare Coates, the International stan’s 20th double centurion in bowling of left-arm spinner Tendai through the gate by Hasan Ali for yesterday. Pic: @ Olympic Committee (IOC) Test . By the declaration, Chisoro. Nauman Ali’s 97 from 104 4, then stand-in Brendan TheRealPCB point man for the Games as balls was an innings by a batsman Taylor, the most experienced chair of the coordination com- given licence to have a go: He player in a weakened Zimbabwe mission, said he had no doubt Zimbabwe were 52-4 in reply by lashed five sixes and nine fours. side, played a sloppy shot off pacer that the Games, already post- stumps, trailing by 458 runs, and at Pace spearhead Blessing Muz- Shaheen Shah Afridi and was poned by a year because of the risk of losing the Test inside three arabani, who dismissed Azhar Ali caught behind for 9. pandemic, would proceed as for 126 on Friday, returned the best The last wicket of the day was planned. days by an innings, as it did in the figures of 3-82. that of Milton Shumba, who gifted “Absolutely, it’s going first Test last week. Zimbabwe’s top order was spinner Sajid Khan with his first ahead,” Coates told reporters brushed aside. Test wicket, trapped plumb on 2. after hosting the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) annual general meeting in Sydney. “The Prime Minister Seifert tests positive, Williamson moved to of Japan said that to the Pres- ident of the two or three weeks ago. He con- REUTERS - AUCKLAND to the Maldives was taken after advice that tinues to say that to the IOC.” their entry into the UK, initially thought to Coates expressed confi- batsman Tim Seifert will be about May 11, was likely to be delayed a Pakistan hopes to finish dence that the “playbook” of remain in after testing positive for further week,” NZC said in a statement. health requirements for all COVID-19 but skipper Kane Williamson and New Zealand trainer Chris Donaldson, participants unveiled by four others have been moved to the Maldives who previously planned to return home, has T20 league in UAE organisers last week was “a pending their departure for England, New now opted to remain with the England- guide for a safe and successful Zealand Cricket said yesterday. bound players and is also in the Maldives. AP - Games”. International cricketers who were part Seifert, who played for the Kolkata There is growing oppo- of the started heading Knight Riders, was due to return to New The hopes to finish its league in the United sition in Japan towards the back home on Wednesday after Tuesday’s Zealand on a charter flight with the IPL’s Arab Emirates next month. Olympics proceeding, abrupt suspension of the Twenty20 com- Kiwi cohort but the 26-year-old failed both The Pakistan Super League was postponed in March with 20 games to however, and more than petition, a direct consequence of a resur- his pre-departure PCR tests. NZC said he is go after several players and support staff in the six franchises tested pos- 230,000 people have signed gence of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. experiencing moderate COVID-19 itive for COVID-19. a petition calling for them to New Zealand players in the squad for a symptoms. Pakistan is in the middle of a third wave which authorities say is worse be cancelled. Test tour of England, which includes the “Once Seifert has undergone treatment than the previous ones. Pakistan on Friday reported 140 deaths from the “That is a concern,” Coates inaugural World Test Championship final and the statutory period of isolation and has coronavirus in 24 hours and goes into a national lockdown from Saturday added. “I think that there’s a against India from June 18-22, are scheduled tested negative for COVID-19, he will be until May 16 to force people to stay home during the Eid al-Fitr festival which correlation between the to go straight to Britain after the conclusion transferred back to New Zealand where he is celebrated at the end of Ramadan. numbers who are concerned of the IPL. will undergo the mandatory 14-day period PCB officials and the six franchise owners had a virtual meeting on Friday about their safety with the Williamson, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell of managed isolation,” NZC added. after which it was decided to approach the Emirates Cricket Board as a pos- numbers who have been vac- Santner, along with team physiotherapist Seifert is waiting to be moved to sible host. cinated in Japan. Tommy Simsek, initially decided to remain Chennai, where he will undergo treatment Pakistan is due to tour England on June 23 and the PCB wants to com- “And the numbers are very in New Delhi after they were unable to in the same hospital where Chennai Super plete the PSL before the national team departs to England. small, particularly amongst the secure an exemption to travel to Britain until Kings’ Australian coach Mike Hussey “While the UAE has emerged as a preferred venue, a number of chal- elderly. And so as the vaccine May 11. has been staying after contracting lenges remain, which will be worked through over the coming days,” PCB is rolled out in Japan, I think “The decision for this group to transfer COVID-19. chief executive Wasim Khan said in a statement. that will improve.”