WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016 SPORTS Saudi princess appointed to oversee women’s sports sector RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet appoint- of the kingdom’s federation that over- In a decree in May, King Salman Princess Reema, whose father Prince reported that a court in the Eastern ed a prominent princess to head a new sees sports and stadiums are male-only. ordered the General Presidency for Youth Bandar bin Sultan served as Saudi Province has approved the appointment department for women under the king- Even so, the kingdom is sending four Welfare to be renamed the General ambassador to Washington for more of the country’s first female commercial dom’s General Authority for Sports in a female athletes to the Olympic games in Authority for Sports. The former body than two decades until 2005, is a gradu- arbitrator. It marks the first time a move that could signal greater female Rio, marking the second time that Saudi had sponsored cultural and sports activi- ate of George Washington University woman has been appointed to such a access to sports. women will participate in the Olympics. ties for youth. with a degree specializing in museum post. There are no female judges in Saudi The announcement, made after the The General Authority for Sports’ website In April last year, the king sacked the studies, Islamic art and architecture. In Arabia and only a handful of women weekly Cabinet session Monday evening, lists no details about its activities or mis- most senior woman in government, Nora the kingdom, she is widely known for have been granted licenses to practice offered no details about Princess Reema sion. A separate government portal al-Fayez, from her post as deputy educa- having served as chief executive officer law. Arab News reported that lawyer bint Bandar’s role. Physical education is shows the agency is responsible for issu- tion minister for girls. Shunned by reli- of the upscale Harvey Nichols depart- Shaimaa Sadeq al-Jibran’s appointment not on the curriculum for Saudi girls in ing licenses to establish new sports cen- gious ultraconservatives, she was strong- ment store in the capital, Riyadh, which was challenged because she is a woman, public schools and ultraconservative ters and handles youth registration in ly pushing to try to get physical educa- was among the first retailers to hire but that the Administrative Appeals clerics shun women’s exercise as sports. The sports authority could not be tion on the curriculum for girls in public women as sales clerks. Court ultimately gave its approval. — AP “immodest.” Women’s teams are not part immediately reached for comment. schools. Also this week, Saudi newspapers Misbah wants Pakistan to pull down England ‘pillars’ BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul- Haq believes knocking down England “pillars” Alastair Cook and Joe Root holds the key to his side’s hopes of winning the third Test at Edgbaston. England levelled the four-match series at 1-1 last time out at Old Trafford. Between them, England captain Cook and vice- captain Root made 506 runs for just twice out at Old Trafford in a second Test the hosts won by the huge margin of 330 runs. But you have to go back to May 2015 for the last time another specialist England batsman made a Test hundred-discarded opener Adam Lyth’s 107 against New Zealand at Headingley. “In every team there are key players and at the moment those two are in really good form,” said Misbah of Cook and Root at Edgbaston on Tuesday. “If you really have to put pressure on the opposition, it’s important to get their main players out because those are the two pillars of their batting. “Psychologically, that can also give you an advantage and damage the oppo- sition if you can get them early, because other (members of the England) batting line-up are struggling at the moment. “That’s really important for us to just get them (Cook and Root) early and put them (England) under pressure.” James Vince has yet to make a fifty in his seven career Test innings this season and left- BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan’s cricket captain Misbah ul-Haq speaks during a press conference at hander Gary Ballance is also searching for a big Edgbaston, Birmingham England yesterday. Pakistan will play England in their third test of score following his surprise recall for Pakistan’s their 4 match series starting today. — AP AB de Villiers 75-run win in the series opener at Lord’s. Today’s match will be the 500th Test played want international cricket back in Pakistan, just “Throughout my time as captain there’s in England. By contrast, Pakistan have been to help our youngsters and just to help cricket De Villiers ruled out of always been something up for discussion and unable to play international cricket at home in Pakistan. at the moment it’s the middle order,” said Cook. since an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus “It’s really difficult for the Pakistan Cricket “Until the guys get good scores consistently in Lahore in 2009 made the country a ‘no-go Board and it can really hurt them financially New Zealand test series that will be the case but they’re very good play- area’ for major foreign sides. also. “You can see wherever the World Cups are, ers and they got picked because of outstanding Pakistan have since established a temporary or international events, the whole scenario CAPE TOWN: Skipper AB de Villiers has 10 months, while Dale Steyn has also been form for their counties. ‘home’ in the UAE but Misbah said there was no changes, it’s like a fever in that country for that been ruled out of South Africa’s two-test included after recovering from the shoul- Turning to number four Vince, opening bats- substitute for playing in front of your own fans. sport. That’s what we have been really miss- home series against New Zealand this der and groin problems that plagued him man Cook added: “I like the way he plays. He’s “It can really hurt your overall development as ing.” month with an injured elbow and Faf du in the Proteas’ last two test series against got a couple of starts and the way he handled a cricketing nation (not playing at home)”, the Asked if he felt it was safe for rival Test teams Plessis will take over the captaincy. India and England. the whole situation in a different format in the 42-year-old veteran skipper explained. “Your to tour Pakistan now, Misbah replied: “That (the Fast bowler Morne Morkel has also been All-rounder Wayne Parnell is the only United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a good indicator youth can really be inspired if you are playing security situation) has been improving a lot. sidelined, with a bulging disc in his back, member of the 15-man squad who did not of how he can handle the pressure. He needs internationally back at home. Obviously, you “The Pakistan government, the army, every- Cricket South Africa said in a statement play in the most recent test series against that score for his confidence and to get you can build more infrastructure. “It’s one area body is really working hard on that. Hopefully, yesterday. De Villiers will be out for six to the English at the start of the year. guys (the press) off his back.” where you can say we are really unlucky and we it will be better in the coming future.” —AFP eight weeks, it said. The first test will be played in Durban “I’m naturally disappointed to miss the from Aug. 19-23 and the second in Pretoria, test series against New Zealand, particular- starting just four days later. ly because I have not missed a test match through injury since my debut in 2004,” De Squad: Villiers was quoted as saying. Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, “However, with an exciting summer of Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Stephen cricket ahead, it is obviously sensible to Cook, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean give my elbow time to heal properly.” Elgar, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Seamer Vernon Philander makes a Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Dale return to the test squad for the first time in Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl. — Reuters Father may not go with Woakes BIRMINGHAM: England all-rounder Chris ents) drive all over the UK. “He’s a little bit Woakes hopes his current good form will claustrophobic, so flying has always been a last long enough to persuade his father to no-no. He doesn’t get in lifts and things like conquer his fear of flying. that (either).” Woakes would be delighted if The Warwickshire all-rounder heads into his father saw him in action in Australia, but Wednesday’s third Test at his Edgbaston thinks it unlikely. “I don’t think I would (be home ground in arguably the best form of able to persuade him) — unless he went on his career. His father, Roger, saw his son a boat,” Woakes added. take 11 wickets in England’s 75-run defeat “I’m sure he’d love to, but don’t think in the first Test at Lord’s and is set to be he’d be able to. I’m sure he’ll be happy sat among the crowd when the hosts look to on his sofa watching it on TV with a cup of go 2-1 up in the four-match series at tea. “(But) don’t get me wrong-I’ll ask the Edgbaston following their 330-run win in question if I’m in the Ashes squad.” the second Test at Old Trafford.