THURSDAY-SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 Sport 05 Iran: Gov't distances ‘It feels amazing to be itself from execution someone who is changing the of wrestler Afkari life of

This applies even more so youngsters’: in this case because the Irani- an National Olympic Commit- Rashid Khan tee, it said, supported the IOC's efforts to have Afkari spared. "The difficulty for us is this execution didn't relate to a sporting event," veteran IOC Vice President John Coates told the Sydney Morning Herald paper. "And the other difficulty is of course that there is probably 50 of the national Olympic committees that come from ter- ritories that still have capital : Afghan spinner punishment. "We've had diffi- Rashid Khan is the quintessen- culties with the Iranians before tial T20 bowler. The all-round- Iran's government has dis- er made his international debut tanced itself from the execu- in them not participating or in the year 2015 and in these tion of wrestler Navid Afkari, pulling out of competition. five years he has become one of who was executed over the They didn't participate against the most respected limited overs weekend after being sentenced Israel and we've suspended bowlers of his time. to death on charges of murder them in respect of those sport- Rashid, who started as a mys- KABUL: An excellent man Ghani continued his bril- ullah Shahidi put on a stand of 70 runs with Afsar Zazai who amid widespread criticism. ing violations before. tery spinner, has grown his rep- knock from Bahar Shinwari at liant form in the tournament 64 runs for the second wicket complimented him well with a According to Iranian legal "But this is a different sit- ertoire by adding loads of varia- the top and Shahidullah Kamal with a fabulous knock of 64 before Shinwari lost his wick- much-needed cameo. tions in his bowling which authorities, Afkari killed a se- uation. This is someone who at the lower order helped Mis- while and Nasir et to Waqar Salamkheil in the The pair ensured the makes him tough to pick. Add to curity officer during a demon- has been charged with murder. e Ainak Knights qualify for the Jamal scored 23 each while 12th over as the DFI Band-e Knights were able to chase the that his big hitting skills down stration in Shiraz in 2018. There are different versions of Final of Shpageeza and Shahpur Amir Dragons made a good target in the penultimate over the order and athleticism on the On Tuesday, Iran's govern- what happened and different League beating a strong DFI Zadran took 2 wickets each for comeback in the game taking to qualify for the Final of the field and you have a complete ment spokesman Ali Rabiei said versions of whether he got a fair modern-day cricketer. His per- Band-e Amir Dragons side by 5 the Knights. Shahidi’s wicket in the next tournament. Afkari's execution was ulti- trial." Coates says IOC Presi- formances on the pitch have in- wickets in the second qualifier In response, the Mis-e Ain- over to send both set batsmen The Final of Etisalat 4G mately a decision made by the dent Thomas Bach had plead- spired to become of Etisalat 4G Shpageeza Crick- ak Knights lost Mohammad back to the pavilion. Shpageeza Cricket League is family of the murder victim. ed Afkari's case with Iranian the fifth Asian country to get et League. Shahzad early in the power- However, a sensational scheduled to start between the Test status, after a plethora of The athlete's execution took Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali The DFI Band-e Amir Drag- play as Sharafuddin Ashraf knock from left-hander Sha- Ayobi Kabul Eagles and Hazrat memorable performances in place on Saturday. Khamenei and President Has- ons opted to bat first after win- continued his great form with hidullah Kamal snatched the Ltd. Mis-e Ainak Knights to- white ball cricket. One of the "This does not lie in the san Rouhani. The UN human ning the toss and posted 178/8 the ball. The in-form pair of game back in Knights’ favor as morrow at 12 noon. most sort after cricketers in T20 remit of the government," Ra- rights experts condemned the in the allotted 20 overs as Us- Bahar Shinwari and Hashmat- he put a crucial partnership of The Kabul Times leagues around the world, Rash- biei daily Etemad. execution and raised the alarm id plays for Sunrisers Hydera- Iran said he had confessed that it was the latest "in a se- bad in the Indian Premier but the athlete, his family and ries of death penalty sentences League and has been a star per- human rights organisations handed down in the context of former for them over the years. Seen as someone who has in- Israeli football club notorious for said the confession was ob- protests" in Iran. "Such flagrant disregard spired an entire generation of tained through torture. They Afghan youth to take up crick- said he was being especially for the right to life through et, Rashid said that he feels Arab abuse confirms UAE talks targeted as a high-profile ath- summary executions is not only blessed and lucky to have got the lete who dared criticise the gov- a matter of domestic concern," opportunity help change the ernment. Iranian justice au- said the UN experts' statement mindset of the youth in the war- Beitar Jerusalem soccer mally recognize the majority- broadcaster reported Sept. 12 gal feasibility of the deal. Isra- thorities denied the allega- on Monday. torn nation. “It feels amazing club, which gained notoriety for Jewish state. that an Abu Dhabi businessman el's Channel 12 reported on tions, saying Afkari was sen- "The European Union is to be someone who is changing its hardcore supporters' chants "This is a chance to turn told associates he's considering Tuesday that the potential in- the life of youngsters. To be tenced to death for murder opposed to the death penalty of "death to Arabs," confirmed Beitar Jerusalem into a domi- investing in the club, and that vestor is businessman Sulaim- someone who is helping change based on the "Qisas" princi- under all circumstances and on Tuesday that it's in talks to nant club, powerful in Israel accountants and lawyers are an Al-Fahim. their mindset and plans about ple, according to which the fam- cases with no exception," a secure a "large investment" and globally, that will serve as checking the financial and le- aljazeera what they want to become in the ily of a murder victim can spokesman for EU foreign poli- from the United Arab Emirates a tangible symbol of the new future,” Rashid told Indian off choose whether the perpetra- cy chief Josep Borrell said in a spinner R Ashwin on the latter’s as the two nations prepared to winds of peace that are blow- tor is sentenced to death or not. statement on Monday. YouTube show DRS with Ash- seal a landmark peace deal. ing in the Middle East," the On Tuesday, the Interna- "Human rights remain a win. “They were not busy in Beitar's owner, Moshe club said. tional Olympic Committee central feature of our engage- sports and were not too much Hogeg, will soon travel to Abu When Hogeg took over in interested in sports. They were (IOC) said it will not attempt ment with Iran. We will con- Dhabi to advance the deal, the 2018, he said religion would no mostly interested in other ac- to ban Iran from the Olympic tinue to engage with Iranian soccer club said on its website. longer be a criteria in choos- tivities which were not good for movement despite internation- authorities on this issue in- After years of discreet clos- ing players, the Times of Israel the country also. “It’s a huge al dismay at the execution. cluding through the local EU er ties, the UAE is due to sign reported, signaling that had honor for me to be someone who The IOC said excluding representation in Tehran and is helping them change,” he add- an agreement with Israel in been a factor in the past. The Iran would "punish athletes" also on individual cases such ed. Rashid has picked up 133 Washington on Tuesday to nor- owner sought to stop racist because of the political system as this recent execution." wickets in 71 ODIs and 89 wick- malize relations, making it the chanting in the club's stadium. they happen to live under. aljazeera ets in 48 T20 internationals. third Middle East nation to for- Israel's Kan News public Monitoring Desk Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler lead Miami Heat to Game 1 overtime win over Boston Celtics Butler fought through traf- on Sky Sports. fic for the game-winning buck- "It was a great win. We're et with 12 seconds remaining up 1-0, but we got three more in the extra session, drawing a to get," Adebayo said. foul on the play and making the The Celtics led by 14 early 'And 1' free throw to put the in the fourth quarter before the Heat up 116-114. Heat got within 101-98 on a After Adebayo made 1-of-2 Herro three-pointer with 3:17 at the free throw line, Tatum remaining. Boston went up 105- missed on a three-point at- 100 on a shot-clock-beating tempt as time expired to seal floater by Walker with 1:09 left, the result. but Herro drained another trey "He made a great play," at 1:02 to cut the deficit to two. Tatum said of Adebayo's block. A Butler step-back three "That's all it is. He made a good made it 106-105 to the Heat with play, can't do anything about 22 seconds left, but Derrick it." Goran Dragic led the Heat Jones Jr committed a foul be- with 29 points and seven re- fore the ensuing inbound pass bounds, Jae Crowder added 22 to allow Tatum to knot the score and sunk five three-pointers, with a free throw as the Celtics and Butler scored 20 for the retained possession. Heat, who won for the ninth Tatum missed a three-point time in 10 playoff games. Ade- attempt at the buzzer to force bayo had 18 points and nine overtime. assists, and Tyler Herro fell an Boston led 83-71 entering assist shy of a triple-double (12 the fourth after Miami were points, 11 rebounds, nine as- held to a playoff-low 16 points sists). in the third quarter. The Heat Tatum had a game-high 30 went 1-of-8 from three-point points with 14 rebounds, Mar- range in the period, undoing a cus Smart scored 26 and scorching shooting perfor- Kemba Walker had 19 for the mance in the second that had Celtics. Walker put Boston up forged a 55-all half-time tie. 114-113 on a step-back bucket The Heat trailed by 13 in with 23.6 seconds left in over- the first quarter before outscor- time. ing the Celtics 37-29 in the sec- Game 2 of the best-of-sev- ond. Miami shot 68.1 per cent en series takes place late on in the second period, including Thursday night (midnight), live 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.