TENNIS | Page 3 FFORMULAORMULA 1 | Page 4 ‘Best yet’ Rosberg must To Advertise here Murray poised be accurate, Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 to pounce at punchy to US Open beat Hamilton Friday, August 26, 2016 CRICKET Dhul Qa’da 23, 1437 AH Dizzy Roy GULF TIMES sets up England win over Pakistan SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL Iran star Dejagah says Qatar can qualify for 2018 W Cup ‘Qatar national team have improved so much over the last four years since we played them in the 2014 qualifiers. They now pose a threat to all other Asian sides. They have a number of good players almost all of whom play in the Qatar Stars League’ Sc.qa than Dejagah’s Al Arabi teammate and Doha fellow winger Boualem Khoukhi, who has found the net four times for Qatar Qatar win Thai friendly during their second round qualifying ran vice-captain Ashkan Dejagah campaign. has joined his national coach Car- “I know Boualem well as a person,” los Queiroz in talking up Qatar’s said Dejagah. “We have been teasing Ichances of booking a direct berth each other about this game from the in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and com- time the draw was made and I am glad plimented the 2022 hosts on their re- I will be facing him. I wish him the best. cent progress. He is a great talent, a very clever player. The two teams will face off in their I will update my coach and teammates opening Group A third round qualifi ers about his strengths, especially the dan- in Tehran’s iconic Azadi Stadium on 1 ger he poses from set-pieces and free- September. kicks.” Al Arabi midfi elder Dejagah, who is Dejagah will hope that Khoukhi and one of the very few current Asian inter- his other Qatari friends will turn well- nationals with a top European league ti- wishers should Iran qualify for the fi rst tle under his belt, exclusively told www. ever FIFA World Cup in the region. “I sc.qa that ‘Al Annabi’ have improved have been talking to a lot of friends here enormously and can challenge his team about the 2022 World Cup prepara- for a direct entry to Russia. tions,” he said. “Qatar national team have improved “It is too early to talk about my in- so much over the last four years since volvement as a player. I am now focus- we played them in the 2014 qualifi - ing on the 2018 World Cup. Once that is ers. They now pose a threat to all other over, I will try to do my best during the Asian sides. They have a number of 2022 qualifi ers so that my nation can good players almost all of whom play in qualify and I can be part of a historic the Qatar Stars League. Football in Qa- tournament in a country where I have tar is more competitive and a lot diff er- many friends. I am glad that Qatar are ent now,” said the 2008-09 Bundesliga preparing seriously for the World Cup winner with Wolfsburg. so early. I have been witnessing all the In April, when the third round draw buzz and following the news through was made, Queiroz had tipped opposite media.” number José Carreño’s side along with Dejagah will be hoping he will have continental heavyweights South Korea played at three FIFA World Cups come as the main Group A challengers block- November 2022, but memories of his ing Iran’s progress to their second suc- Iran vice-captain fi rst one in Brazil will linger long. Es- Qatar’s Hassan Haydos (top left) and Ali Assad (bottom centre) battle for the cessive FIFA World Cup. Ashkan Dejagah pecially the moment when he outwit- ball during their friendly against Thailand in Doha yesterday. Haydos scored in Dejagah, who plied his trade in the ted Pablo Zabaleta of Argentina, the the 8th and 77th minutes while Rodrigo Tabata added one in the 62nd to give English Premier League for two seasons Manchester City right-back who had the hosts a 3-0 victory. Qatar are gearing up for the crucial final round of Asian with Fulham before joining Al Arabi won the English title only a month ear- qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. in 2014, gave further credence to his lier, during a 1-0 Group F defeat in Belo coach’s analysis. Stadium against Qatar in a third round draw in front of 100,000 people with Horizonte but went down in the box. He added: “Qatar have the ability to qualifi er for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Dejagah coming on as a second half “It was a big game against Argentina,” qualify for Russia. South Korea are the which ended in a 2-2 draw. substitute. he recalled. “I have faced Zabaleta many frontrunners. China can be a tough side “Though we could not win, it was a “I have put that game to the back of times in the Premier Leaguewhile at at their home. Uzbekistan can be tricky. memorable occasion for me as I scored my mind,” he said. “I am now focusing Fulham. For me it was an obvious pen- So there will not be any easy matches both our goals in my fi rst international on the 2018 qualifi er. Qatar are a tough alty. But then this is football. Referees for us in the group.” game,” continued Dejagah. “It will be a team and will give us a fi ght again. have a tough job – they have less than The latest edition will add to Dejag- great feeling to face Qatar again in front However, this time they will also be un- a second to make a decision. Our fans ah’s indelible memories of previous Iran of our home crowd.” der pressure as they will be looking at have never forgotten the way we fought vs Qatar contests. Iran’s best ever left- Four months after his debut, Qatar three points. We are confi dent we can against a huge team. Neither have I.” winger, who usually plays on the right again came calling to the iconic Azadi do our best to make our people happy.” Qatar fans will certainly be hoping for for Al Arabi, made his international this time for a fourth round 2014 quali- Standing in the way of that mission Dejagah and Iran to have a not-so-good debut in February 2012 at the Azadi fi er. ‘Team Melli’ were held to a goalless are a few familiar faces, none more so day at the offi ce on 1 September. BOTTOMLINE Pakistan to play day-night FOCUS Kuwait sacks heads of Test against W. Indies Olympic committee, Schedule: AFP The series, which runs from ing an international match with the 20-September WI v ECB XI warm-up T20 Karachi September 23 to November 3, new pink balls used in the day-night football federation includes three Twenty20 inter- Test last year. Dubai nationals and as many one-day The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) 23-September 1st T20 Dubai AFP ciation. akistan yesterday announced and Tests, the highlight being said in a statement it “will host its fi rst 24-Septemeber 2nd T20 Dubai Kuwait City The move comes 10 months after the schedule for their series the day-night Test in Dubai in ever day-night Test match from Oc- 27-September 3rd T20 Abu Dhabi the Gulf state was suspended by the against the West Indies in the October tober 13-17 to be played with the pink 30-Septemeber 1st one-day International — International Olympic Committee and United Arab Emirates begin- ball under lights at the Dubai cricket D/N Sharjah uwait announced yesterday FIFA over government interference in Pning next month, including their fi rst- working hours. The International stadium”. The West Indies will tune up that it had sacked the board of sports. 02-October 2nd one-day International — D/N ever day-night Test. Cricket Council (ICC) is attempting to for the day-night Test with a three- Sharjah directors of both its Olympic Several other international federa- The series, which runs from Sep- revive waning interest in the fi ve-day day side game in Sharjah, also under 3-4 October WI v ECB XI two-day warm-up committee and football as- tions have also blacklisted Kuwait, and tember 23 to November 3, includes game with the day-night innovation, lights. Ksociation. the country missed the Rio de Janeiro match Dubai three Twenty20 internationals and as and termed the Adelaide Test a “big The PCB had off ered to host the The country’s General Commission Olympics due to suspension. 05-October many one-day and Tests, the highlight success”. Australia will also host two Twenty20s in Pakistan, but the West 3rd one-day International — D/N for Sports announced it had named a Sports organisations have demanded being the day-night Test in Dubai in day-night Tests against South Africa Indies refused on security fears. Abu Dhabi new head and deputy head for both or- Kuwait amend its laws to prevent inter- October. and then Pakistan during their home Pakistan has not hosted any inter- 07-9 October 3-day match — WI Vs. PCB ganisations. ference. Australia hosted the fi rst-ever day- season, starting in November. national cricket — barring three one- Patrons XI — D/N Sharjah Sheikh Fahd Jaber al-Ali has been In June, Kuwait’s parliament agreed night Test at Adelaide against New Pakistan’s plans to host the day- days and as many Twenty20s against 13-17 October 1st Test Match — D/N Dubai named as the new head of the Olym- sweeping amendments that gave the Zealand in November last year, with night Test were made after they agreed minnows Zimbabwe in May last year 21-25 October 2nd Test Match Abu Dhabi pic committee, replacing Sheikh Talal government the right to dissolve the high attendance fi gures as it drew fans to play Australia.