WEDNESDAY-JUNE 02, 2021 Sport 05 Afghan team arrives in Qatar for ACB sacks Asghar World Cup 2020 qualifiers Afghan, introduces new captains : Crick- to Zimbabwe in the first Test of the team’s is likely to be et Board on Monday announced the series between both sides in against Pakistan – which will see its board members have approved Abu Dhabi in March.” Afghanistan play three ODIs and the proposal of a split-captaincy “As per the decision, left- as many T20Is in UAE in Sep- for the national team, which ef- hander is tember against Pakistan. fectively removes Asghar Afghan appointed the new ODI and Test Afghanistan is also set to face as skipper. Captain of the National team Australia in a one-off Test in No- A statement issued by the while will serve as vember this year, which as per ACB said: “The decision to re- the Vice-captain for both formats. ICC’s original Future Tours Pro- move Asghar Afghan from cap- “Furthermore, it was decided gram (FTP) was scheduled to be taincy was taken based on an in- that all-rounder will played last year but was eventu- vestigation conducted by ACB’s remain the Vice-Captain of the ally postponed due to the Covid- Investigative committee which T20I team while the decision to 19 pandemic. concluded that some of Afghan’s appoint the new captain will be The Kabul Times decisions as the captain of the taken soon,” the statement read. team resulted in Afghanistan’s loss Shahidi’s first assignment as

KABUL: Afghanistan’s Na- lead going into the final phase of of the best second-placed finish- so far for Igor Stimac’s team, while tional Football Team arrived in matches in the second round of ers would join them in going Bangladesh will be looking to chal- Doha from the UAE on Monday qualifying for the FIFA World through. lenge the Afghans and Indians in a for the second round of the Asian Cup Qatar 2022 and the AFC AFC reported that the Oman quest to avoid last place and the Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Asian Cup China 2023, the side side is already in a strong posi- requirement to enter the playoffs Qatar 2022 and the AFC Asian has played one game more than tion to claim one of those spots for the third round of qualifying Cup China 2023. second-placed Oman. should they not manage to climb for the AFC Asian Cup. After more than 18 months of But having dropped just two over the Qataris, with 12 points Afghanistan’s captain, Far- inactivity due to the COVID-19 points so far – in a 0-0 draw with from five games and matches shad Noor has meanwhile been pandemic, Group E is now ready India just eight months after be- against Qatar, Afghanistan and singled out as a player to watch to resume matches. ing crowned Asian champions – Bangladesh remaining. as, according to the AFC, Noor According to AFC, the battle victory for Qatar over the Indians However, the Afghan team provides a strong, technical pres- for top spot looks to be between plus a draw in their meeting with presents the closest challenge to ence at the heart of the Afghani- Qatar and Oman while Afghani- Oman on June 7 would be enough Oman but, with eight points sep- stan midfield. stan, India and Bangladesh fight it to guarantee top spot and confirm arating Anoush Dastgir’s team The 26-year-old headed in his out for the automatic places in the that berth in China in two years’ from the Gulf side, the chances of side’s first goal in the second phase third round of qualifying for the time. overhauling them are slim. of qualifying for the FIFA World AFC Asian Cup. Should Qatar win the group, Instead, Afghanistan’s focus Cup Qatar 2023 when he netted While Qatar holds a four-point the runners-up will be in a battle will be on securing third spot in the only goal of the game against with the other second-placed the group and guaranteeing them- Bangladesh in the nations’ meet- teams across the eight groups in selves a place in the third round ing back in September 2019. What’s behind the big dip in Norwich City: the second round hoping to have of qualifying for the AFC Asian The Afghan team, which has a good enough record to advance Cup China 2023. just wrapped up a 10-day train- Why Premier to the next phase of FIFA World Much the same will apply for ing camp in the UAE, will face sports ad spending Cup qualifying, AFC reported. fourth-placed India, who have Bangladesh on Thursday and play League survival With seven group winners picked up three points from three Oman on June 11 and India on The past 15 months have than 3.1 million brands. CEO and in first quarter this year, up $14 advancing to the third round, five draws in a disappointing campaign June 15. The Kabul Times been like a game of Twister for Founder Todd Krizelman notes million. He credits the finance and will not be the major sporting leagues. The that while the decreased viewer- entertainment categories with fu- NBA, WNBA and NHL scram- ship was a factor in the declining eling the bump, including spend- bought Naomi Osaka withdraws from French bled their regular seasons last year, spending, so were many other ing by PNC Personal Banking, It's not a place their sporting playing a modified schedule in things. Chase Bank for Business, Para- director Stuart Webber wants to months when players are usually “Other factors to consider in- mount+, Comcast CMCSA 0.0%, take the club back to. Open following threat to expel her enjoying summer vacation. clude canceled games, postponed and Tubi. As the Canaries prepare to The NFL made scheduling ac- seasons and the loss of in-person During first quarter, a total of return to the Premier League after from tournament over media boycott commodations and changed atten- attendance. Games are more fun more than 1,500 advertisers in- a season away, Webber has reject- dance protocols. NASCAR navi- to watch [on TV] when specta- vested in NASCAR, NHL, NBA The four-time Grand Slam sin- knows that I'm introverted, and thing is that we give her the space ed the idea of spending heavily in gated COVID-19 protocols in host tors are cheering,” he says. and NFL, down 7% from 2020. gles champion was fined $15,000 anyone that's seen me at tourna- and time she needs. the push for survival. states. Those were indirect impacts That’s fairly stable, considering after she did not conduct a post- ments will notice that I'm often Trailblazer Billie Jean King "You can spend £120m net and Little wonder that we’ve seen of the pandemic. Other reasons the NBA has 20% fewer games match press conference following wearing headphones as that helps has offered her support to Osaka, get relegated. That's been proven the results of these changes in for pulling back on advertising than during the same period a year her first-round win against Roma- dull my social anxiety. posting on Twitter: "It's incredi- more than once," said Webber. lower sports viewership and, were more direct. earlier due to the modified COV- nian Patricia Maria Tig on Sun- "Though the tennis press has bly brave that Naomi Osaka has "We can't go all in now just to more significantly for media com- “Many companies were neg- ID schedule. “Out of the top 100 day. always been kind to me (and I revealed her truth about her strug- try to stay up for one season be- panies, in ad spending. atively impacted by the pandem- brands placing ads in sports in first The four Grand Slam organis- wanna apologize especially to all gle with depression. Right now, cause, if we get relegated, we're in During first quarter of 2021, ic. Some slowed spending due to quarter 2020, 83 of them returned ers reacted strongly to Osaka's the cool journalists who I may the important thing is that we give deep, deep trouble. all TV advertising spending dur- budget cutbacks but others to im- in Q1 2021. This is a very high move, releasing a joint statement have hurt), I am not a natural pub- her the space and time she needs. "You can do that if you have a ing NFL, NASCAR, NBA, MLB prove perception,” he says. “For renewal rate,” he says. “Spend on Sunday that threatened the 23- lic speaker and get huge waves of We wish her well." rich benefactor who says: 'Spend and NHL games and events fell example, some advertisers sat out from the top 100 brands leapt year-old with potential disquali- anxiety before I speak to the Martina Navratilova tweeted £100m - if it goes wrong, then I 28% compared to 2020, reflect- the Super Bowl so they could from 35% to 65% of first quarter fication and a ban from future tour- world's media. I get really nervous her best wishes, saying: "I am so can actually afford to write that ing a sports economy that remains provide money to support vac- total spend in these sports naments should she not reconsid- and find it stressful to always try sad about Naomi Osaka. I truly off.' We don't have that. in flux as we recover from the pan- cine awareness.” leagues. This suggests that the big- er. to engage and give you the best hope she will be OK. "Our version of that would be demic. That’s according to num- Not every league felt the im- gest firms are becoming more con- World No 2 Osaka said she answers I can. "As athletes we are taught to to go into administration. We can't bers from MediaRadar, which of- pact equally. Krizelman notes that centrated, spending more.” had suffered bouts of depression "So here in Paris I was already take care of our body, and per- take that risk." Norwich have fers advertising analysis for more NASCAR ad spending rose 31% forbes bounced between the top two di- since winning her first Grand Slam feeling vulnerable and anxious so haps the mental and emotional visions over the past decade - pro- title at the US Open in 2018 and I thought it was better to exercise aspect gets short shrift. This is moted to the Premier League in that talking to the media triggered self-care and skip the press con- about more than doing or not do- 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021, and anxiety. ferences. I announced it pre-emp- ing a press conference. Good luck relegated to the Championship in In a statement posted on Twit- tively because I do feel like the Naomi - we are all pulling for you! 2014, 2016 and 2020. ter, Osaka said: "Hey everyone, rules are quite outdated in parts "And kudos to Naomi Osaka Daniel Farke's side are back this isn't a situation I ever imag- and I wanted to highlight that. for caring so much about the oth- in the top flight after winning the ined or intended when I posted a "I wrote privately to the tour- er players. While she tried to make Championship, but memories of few days ago. I think now the best nament apologising and saying a situation better for herself and financial turmoil will stop them thing for the tournament, the oth- that I would be more than happy others, she inadvertently made it overspending. er players and my well-being is to speak with them after the tour- worse. Hope this solution, pull- Norwich have come through that I withdraw so that everyone nament as the Slams are intense. ing out, as brutal as it is will allow perilous financial situations be- can get back to focusing on the I'm gonna take some time away her to start healing and take care fore, most notably coming close tennis going on in Paris. from the court now, but when the of her SELF." I am so sad about to ruin after relegation from the "I never wanted to be a dis- time is right I really want to work Naomi Osaka.I truly hope she will Premier League in 1995. They traction. I accept that my timing with the Tour to discuss ways we be ok. As athletes we are taught managed to survive with co-own- was not ideal and my message can make things better for the to take care of our body, and per- ers Delia Smith, the celebrity chef, could have been clearer. More im- players, press and fans. Anyways haps the mental & emotional as- and her husband Michael Wynn portantly, I would never trivial- hope you are all doing well and pect gets short shrift. This is Jones at the helm. ize mental health or use the term staying safe, love you guys. I'll about more than doing or not do- A relegation to League One in lightly. see you when I see you." ing a press conference. Good luck 2009 saw debts stack up to £23m "The truth is that I have suf- It’s incredibly brave that Naomi- we are all pulling for you! and a brush with going into ad- fered long bouts of depression Naomi Osaka has revealed her World No 25 Coco Gauff re- ministration, before a restructur- since the US Open in 2018 and I truth about her struggle with de- sponded to Osaka's post on Twit- ing and back-to-back promotions have had a really hard time coping pression. ter, writing: "Stay strong. I admire restored financial equity. with that. Anyone that knows me Right now, the important your vulnerability."Skysport