WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2017 SPORTS England legend Boycott apologises for ‘unacceptable’ remark LONDON: Controversial England bat- been cut with the rest of the world However, Boycott-who has overcome whole life and have the utmost respect England cricketer to be knighted was ting legend Geoff Boycott made a grov- because of the apartheid regime, said throat cancer in 2002 to become a pop- for its players.” The BBC would not com- Ian Botham-no stranger to controversy elling apology yesterday for remarking knighthoods had been bestowed on ular and outspoken pundit on BBC ment on whether he would continue to himself-in 2007. he needed to “black up his face” to get a West Indian cricketers like “confetti”. Radio’s globally renowned Test Match play a part in the ongoing West Indies Boycott has always contended the knighthood at an event last week. “Mine’s been turned down twice. I’d Special-took to Twitter on Tuesday to three match Test series although they reason he has not been knighted is The 76-year-old astonished his audi- better black me face,” Boycott is report- unreservedly apologise. did issue a statement welcoming his because of his conviction in France-first- ence with his comment during a ques- ed to have said according to a guest at “Speaking at an informal gathering I apology. ly in 1996 and confirmed on appeal in tion and answer session in one of the the event cited by The Daily Mirror. was asked a question and I realise my “He has rightly apologised unre- 1998 — for assaulting former girlfriend intervals at last week’s first Test with the The guest at the event-which cost answer was unacceptable,” he tweeted. servedly for these clearly unacceptable Margaret Moore. West Indies. £300 ($385, 327 euros) to attend-said “I meant no offence but what I said was comments,” a BBC spokesperson said. A durable but unspectacular opening Boycott, who played a pivotal role in the remark though intended as a joke clearly wrong and I apologise unre- West Indies greats like Viv Richards, batsman, Boycott played 108 Tests, scor- organising the 1982 England rebel tour was “crass” and went down like a “lead servedly. Garfield Sobers and Curtly Ambrose ing 8114 runs with 22 centuries at an of South Africa when sporting links had balloon”. “I have loved West Indian cricket my have been knighted whilst the last average of 47.72. — AFP ANAHEIM: Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers is forced out at second by Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday in Anaheim, California. — AFP BASEBALL Indians edge Sox in heavyweight battle CLEVELAND: Brandon Guyer scored when Dodgers haven’t lost consecutive games since over four years between major league victo- got four outs to earn his seventh save, despite first-place Chicago in the NL Central. Brandon first baseman Brock Holt threw away Roberto July 20 and 21. The Pirates have lost seven of ries, Albers has two wins in less than a week. giving up an RBI single to Mike Trout in the Crawford hit an RBI double to back Stratton (2- Perez’s bunt in the ninth inning, lifting the their past nine. Mike Foltynewicz (10-9) has lost four of his last ninth. Tyler Skaggs (1-4) was charged with five 2) in his fourth major league start after he won Cleveland Indians over the Boston Red Sox 5-4 five starts for Atlanta. runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings. The Angels at Washington his last time out. The Giants in Major League Baseball on Monday night in DIAMONDBACKS 3, METS 2, 10 INNINGS had won nine of 11. earned their first home shutout of the year, a matchup of first-place teams. After Guyer’s A.J. Pollock hit a two-run homer in the 10th ORIOLES 7, ATHLETICS 3 becoming the last team in the majors to do so. leadoff double against Brandon Workman (0- inning as Arizona snapped a three-game skid. Adam Jones hit a pair of home runs and GIANTS 2, BREWERS 0 Milwaukee starter Zach Davies (14-7) allowed 1), Holt fielded the bunted ball and tried to J.D. Martinez had an RBI single and left fielder Jonathan Schoop added a three-run shot to Giants rookie Chris Stratton pitched six two runs in six innings. He took his first road throw out Guyer at third. Guyer slid into the David Peralta threw out the potential go- help Baltimore beat Oakland. Wade Miley (7- innings to run his scoreless streak to 12 2/3 defeat of the season after a 7-0 start, dropping bag as the throw skipped past third baseman ahead run at the plate for the Diamondbacks, 10) held the A’s to two runs, five hits and four innings over his past two outings, and San to 14-4 away from home in his career. Sam Rafael Devers, then got to his feet and raced who began the day with a 2 1/2-game lead walks over six-plus innings to pick up his first Francisco stymied Milwaukee. It was a night of Dyson finished for his 11th save in 12 chances across home plate. Teammates ran onto the over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card. win at Camden Yards since June 17. Miley is 2- missed chances as the Brewers, who had won with the Giants, who beat the Brewers for the field and doused Perez with water and white Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco walked to start the 0 with a 1.38 ERA against Oakland this season. six of seven, dropped 2 1/2 games back of 16th time in 20 games. — AP powder. Perez also had a three-run homer in 10th. One out later, Pollock sent a fastball from Jones tied a career high with four hits and is the second inning. Cody Allen (1-6) allowed Eric Goeddel (0-1) over the center field fence one home run shy of reaching 25 for the sev- Christian Vazquez’s leadoff single in the ninth, to put the Diamondbacks back in front after enth consecutive season. Zach Britton got the CRICKET but retired the next three hitters. The inning they squandered a 1-0 lead in the seventh. final out with two runners on for his 11th save ended when shortstop Francisco Lindor ran Fernando Rodney gave up a leadoff homer to this season and his 60th in a row. Baltimore down Mookie Betts’ popup in center field with Michael Conforto before getting three outs for beat Chris Smith (0-3) for the second time in Joshi to help Bangladesh his back to home plate. Cleveland relief ace his 28th save in 33 tries. Jimmie Sherfy (1-0) 12 days. Andrew Miller left in the seventh inning after pitched a perfect ninth for his first major aggravating the patellar tendinitis in his right league win. WHITE SOX 7, TWINS 6, 1ST GAME spinners for Aussies Tests knee. Miller recently returned after over two TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 2, 2ND GAME weeks on the disabled list with the knee injury. MARINERS 6, BRAVES 5 Jorge Polanco hit his second three-run DHAKA: Bangladesh’s cricket board against Bangladesh this weekend. Agar Andrew Albers worked into the sixth inning homer of the day as Minnesota scored six announced yesterday that former Indian impressed Australian selectors with his form DODGERS 6, PIRATES 5, 12 INNINGS for his second straight win since coming up times in the second inning and routed bowler Sunil Joshi has been appointed the this season, and has received a strong Yasiel Puig homered in the 12th inning, from the minors, leading Seattle over Atlanta. Chicago to split a doubleheader. Brian Dozier squad’s spin consultant after Australian endorsement from coach Darren Lehmann helping Los Angeles top Pittsburgh. Puig Albers (2-0) also had the first hit an RBI of his added a three-run drive off Carson Fulmer dur- Stuart MacGill turned down the coaching ahead of the Test in Dhaka starting Sunday. drove a 1-0 pitch from rookie Dovydas career - in his first big league at-bat. The 31- ing the rally. Byron Buxton and Jason Castro gig. Joshi, a left-arm spinner, will join the “Obviously it depends on what the wicket Neverauskas (1-1) over the wall in center for year-old left-hander beat his former organiza- each added a solo shot for the Twins, who squad as a bowling coach ahead of their first looks like but I’m ready to go if I get the nod,” his 22nd of the season. The Pirates put runners tion, having spent most of the season at the have won five of six. They are a half-game Test against Australia starting this Sunday in Agar told reporters in Dhaka. on first and second with two out in the bot- Braves’ Triple-A club. He went 12-3 but never ahead of the Angels for the second AL wild Dhaka, Bangladesh Cricket Board “I’ve been preparing really well and I’ve tom half, but Ross Stripling retired Max Moroff got a call to the big leagues. Instead, Albers card. Dillon Gee (1-0) retired the first 12 White spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP. done everything I can now. I feel like every- on a liner to right for his second save. Curtis was dealt to the Mariners for cash on Aug. 11. Sox batters before rookie Nicky Delmonico The board had hoped to reel in MacGill thing is in really good order.” Granderson hit a grand slam off Gerrit Cole in He was called up by Seattle to make a start homered leading off the fifth.