SPORT Friday 25 May 2018 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Barcelona icon Iniesta Sharapova seeks joins Vissel Kobe redemption at in historic deal Roland Garros Xavi extends Al Sadd stay by two years FAWAD HUSSAIN 2015 on a two-year contract which THE PENINSULA was later extended by 12 months. Ahead of the last season, Xavi hinted DOHA: A good news for Al Sadd fans it was his last season in Qatar before as Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez I am happy to keep on he expressed his willingness to play has signed a two-year contract being a part of the Al for ‘at least till December 2018’ extension with the Qatari giants Sadd family for two more recently. which will see him continue to play years. I am delighted to However, the new contract for ‘The Wolves’ until the end of the be at the club and with renewal will see the 38-year-old in 2019-2020 season, it was announced Al Sadd colours for another two yesterday. its fans. Everyone here is years. In a statement appearing on Al one big family and I am “As an Al Sadd fan I am delighted Sadd’s official website, the former satisfied and thrilled to with his contract renewal,” Qasim Spanish superstar, who completed continue: Xavi Ahmed, a die hard Al Sadd fan said. his third season with the club, “We were sad to hear about his expressed his delight on contract intentions to leave Al Sadd but now renewal with Al Sadd. quarter-finals in which the Qatari we will have him for another couple “I am happy to keep on being a club will meet with Esteghlal of Iran of years which is not just great for part of the Al Sadd family for two in August following the summer our club but for football in the more years,” Xavi said. break. country also. He has vast experience “I am delighted to be at the club In the recently-concluded and the players have a lot to learn and with its fans. Everyone here is domestic season, Al Sadd ended up from him,” he added. one big family and I am satisfied and in second position at the QNB Stars Apart from playing for Al Sadd, thrilled to continue,” he added. League (QSL). Xavi’s men also played Xavi has been named as a global Under Xavi’s captaincy, Al Sadd the final of Qatar Cup against Al ambassador for the Qatar World Cup have won several accolades including Duhail who scooped the prestigious in 2022. the 2017 Qatar Cup, the 2017 Emir treble which also includes Amir Cup The maestro was a World Cup Cup and the 2017-18 Sheikh Jassim after an unbeaten campaign winner with Spain in 2010 and won Cup. throughout these competitions. eight La Liga titles and four Cham- The maestro also led ‘The Wolves’ In a popular signing, Al Sadd first pions League titles with the Xavi Hernandez to the 2018 AFC Champions League roped in the Barcelona superstar in Catalans. Qatar to face Mexico in Toulon Tournament opener CHINTHANA WASALA QATAR'S GROUP STAGE - China, Japan and South Korea THE PENINSULA FIXTURES will be in contest along with Al Annabi during the DOHA: Qatar’s Under-19 team TOMORROW: tournament. will open their Toulon Interna- QATAR VS MEXICO This is the fifth occasion tional Football Tournament MAY 29: Qatar is taking part in the tour- campaign against Mexico in QATAR VS CHINA nament which is in its 46th Toulon, France tomorrow. JUNE 1: edition. Qatar are pooled in Group QATAR VS ENGLAND Togo and Canada will A along with China, England and compete for the first time. Hosts Mexico in the tournament which France, Portugal, Scotland and will see 12 teams vying for the Roustan in Salon-de-Provence. Turkey are the other partici- top honour. Al Annabi will play their pating nations. Qatar’s first match will be final Group match against The Toulon Tournament is played at the Stade de Lattre- England on June 1. expected to offer the Al Annabi de-Tassigny in Aubagne and the The play-offs will take place juniors a lot of exposure and kickoff is at 5.30pm (6.30pm on June 5, followed by the semi- experience ahead of the Qatar time). finals on the next day. Final of upcoming AFC Under 19 football In their second match, Qatar the tournament will be played Championship which will take will take on China on May 29 at on June 9 in Martigues. place in Jakarta, Indonesia from Qatar Under-19 football team the Stade d’Honneur Marcel Only four teams from Asia October 18 to November 4. SCOREBOARD Dominant Pakistan make England suffer at Lord’s ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS A. Cook b Mohammad Amir ..........................70 REUTERS crumbled for the addition of 16 M. Stoneman b Mohammad Abbas ..............4 runs straight after tea. J. Root c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali .............4 LONDON: Pakistan dominated Jos Buttler, on 14, edged D. Malan c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali .........6 the first day of the opening Test Hasan to second slip where Asad J. Bairstow b Faheem Ashraf ........................27 after bowling out England for 184 Shafiq took a sharp catch. Dom B. Stokes lbw b Mohammad Abbas ............38 and battling to 50 for one in Bess, making his debut, scored J. Buttler c Asad Shafiq b Hasan Ali ............14 overcast conditions at Lord’s five before giving Shafiq another D. Bess c Asad Shafiq b Mohammad Abbas .... 5 yesterday. catch off Abbas, Stuart Broad was M. Wood c Mohammad Amir b Hasan Ali ....7 England captain Joe Root won lbw to Abbas for nought and Mark S. Broad lbw b Mohammad Abbas ...............0 the toss but apart from a gritty 70 Wood was caught by a diving J. Anderson not out ...........................................0 by Alastair Cook, his batsmen Amir at mid-on for seven. Extras (b1, lb6, nb1, w1) .................................9 failed to show the necessary England needed early wickets Total (all out, 58.2 overs, 280 mins) ..184 application as Mohammad Abbas and Broad snared Pakistan Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Stoneman), 2-33 (Root), 3-43 (Malan), 4-100 (Bairstow), 5-149 and Hasan Ali took four wickets opener Imam-ul-Haq lbw for (Cook), 6-168 (Stokes), 7-168 (Buttler), 8-180 each with disciplined seam four, but the hosts failed to make England’s Dominic Bess (right) is about to get caught by Pakistan’s Asad (Bess), 9-180 (Broad), 10-184 (Wood) bowling. another breakthrough under the Shafiq (second left), off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas, on the first Bowling: Amir 14-3-41-1; Abbas 14-7-23-4; England failed to make the floodlights. Azhar Ali (18 not out) day of the first Test match at Lord’s cricket ground in London yesterday. Hasan 15.2-2-51-4 (1nb, 1w); Ashraf 9-2-28- positive start they wanted fol- and Haris Sohail (21 not out) were 1; Shadab 6-0-34-0 lowing their heavy Ashes defeat largely untroubled by the England in Australia and a rare series loss movement so there was clearly ball from Hasan to nick a catch an innings lasting over three fast bowlers, although Azhar was PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS in New Zealand. something in there,” Cook added. to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. hours. dropped in the slips on 16 by Azhar Ali not out ..............................................18 “We’re behind a little bit. Mark Stoneman’s uncon- Dawid Malan as also caught by The experienced left-hander, Stokes off Wood to complete a Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Broad ..............................4 Pakistan have had the better day,” vincing international career con- Sarfraz off Hasan for six to leave who hit 14 fours, looked crest- poor day for Root’s side at the Haris Sohail not out ........................................21 Cook said. tinued when he was bowled by England struggling at 43 for three. fallen after missing out on a 33rd start of the two-match series. Extras (lb7) ........................................................7 “We were probably 60 or 70 Abbas for four, beaten as he tried Cook and Jonny Bairstow dug test century and he trudged “We had a plan because the Total (1 wicket, 23 overs, 108 mins) ....50 short on that wicket. But with a to drive a full-length delivery in with a partnership of 57 slowly back to the pavilion to a pitch was fresh and had moisture To bat: Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz five-day test match you have a which clipped the top of his off before Bairstow was bowled for standing ovation. so it was to bowl full and straight,” Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mo- chance to come back. stump. 27 by Faheem Ashraf. Cook, Ben Stokes unfurled a few Hasan said. hammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas “It was a wicket where if you Root, who could have been playing in a record-equalling trademark attacking strokes in “There was no need for Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Imam) missed your length short or full run out before he had scored, 153rd consecutive test, was his 38 but he was trapped lbw by bouncers because we were Bowling: Anderson 5-2-11-0; Broad 7-4-10-1; you got punished, but three of us played carefully to get to four bowled by an excellent delivery Abbas following a review and getting a lot of help from the Wood 6-3-9-0; Stokes 4-2-9-0; Bess 1-0-4-0 got bowled with a bit of before driving rashly at a wide from Mohammad Amir to end England’s last five wickets pitch.” 18 SPORT FRIDAY 25 MAY 2018 Istanbul to High prices, host 2020 cancelled Champions flights mar League final Kiev final AFP AP KIEV: Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium will KIEV: Price hikes and host the 2020 Cham- cancelled flights are ruining pions League final, UEFA the Champions League final president Aleksander for some fans two days before Ceferin confirmed in Real Madrid and Liverpool Kiev yesterday.