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Thursday, December 15, 2016 Rabia 1 16, 1438 AH Amir set to GULF TIMES shape Test series in SPORT Page 10

FOOTBALL QSL leaders El Jaish face tricky tie against Gharafa Sabri Lamouchi’s El Jaish have been the pace-setters this QSL season, having only lost once so far

By Sports Reporter Doha

he spotlight match in 12th round of the will see table-topping El Jaish take Ton Al Gharafa at the Lekhwiya stadium today. Sabri Lamouchi’s El Jaish have been the pace-setters this QSL season, hav- ing only lost once so far. But they lead the league by just one point with both Al Sadd and Lekhwiya snapping at their heels. Last time out, Jaish left it late to defeat Muaither 2-1 thanks to goals from Uzbekistan international Sardor Rash- idov. Indeed, Rashidov will have to be at his best if El Jaish are to win against Al Gharafa and the young winger will be eager to add to his tally of six goals this team. As for Al Gharafa, they had been the QSL’s form team having gone without defeat for eight matches before being up- set by Al Sailiya in the last round. Coach Pedro Caixina will now have to lift the spirits of his players and will see the tie against the league leaders as ideal moti- vation for his team. Caixinha will be also hoping that for- ward Vladimir Weiss can step up for his side. The Slovakian international has three goals from his last three QSL games and will be looking to punish an El Jaish File photo of El Jaish players celebrating their goal during their match side who could be without key defender against Lekhwiya. Unfortunately for them Lekhwiya won the match Lucas Mendes. thanks to an El Jaish own goal. Jaish coach Lamouchi is also looking forward to the break after the two up- we make a good performance. The last a quality of my players,” added the French a lot of determination. aiming for.” Speaking about his team’s in- we have history and you cannot buy that. coming games. ones against Muaither and Shahania they tactician at his press conference yester- “This year we have played better, with jury situation, Caixinha added, “We have “If we played so many games without “First game of two before the vacation don’t give you space and time and they day. more determination. This time last year seven players out with injury, El Jaish also losing it means we were doing a good job. and my players deserve the break be- are not easy teams to play against. Last Speaking about the team’s ambition we were losing points to the small teams have many injuries but on the day both This means that teams who are playing cause they have been working very hard. season we lost a lot of points to small and determination, Lamouchi added. but this year I’m happy with the players’ teams will have 11 players on the fi eld. you respect you more. We played El Jaish It’s a good team, they have good players teams and this season we are making sure “Our team is working at a rate of 150%. reaction.” We lost the last game but it’s important last season and the result was 2-2 and we and good midfi eld and it will be a tough this doesn’t happen. The players are giving more than they Al Gharafa coach Caixina is also tar- to note that we went more than 70 days played well. They don’t rely on posses- game,” he said. “We played with determination and can. After the AFC semi-fi nal we lost a lot geting three points. “We are going into without losing and that is because of the sion they rely on the counter and they can “When we play against a better team passion and we never give up and this is of energy but the players came back with this game to win and that’s what we are quality of the players. We are a big team, get you.”

CRICKET Afridi to lead World XI against Qatar Stars

By Sports Reporter Doha

ricket fans in Qatar will be treated to some explosive action when star CShahid Afridi leads a World XI against Qatar Stars in a match at the Asian Town Stadium to- morrow. Billed as the “Qatar Cricket Fiesta” the match features several current and former international stars from vari- ous countries, including ’s Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp, ’s Graeme Onions and Paul Nixon, ’s Lakshmipathy Balaji and Yousuf Pathan, Pakistan’s Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Razzaq and Sri Lanka’s Farveez Maharoof and Chaminda Vaas. “We expect a crowd of 10,000 and most of the tickets for the match have been sold out,” Saqlain Rizvi, managing Kamran Khan (vice- of Qatar Stars), Iqbal Choudhry (captain of Qatar partner of Pro Events, the organisers of Stars), Mohamed Ikram Malazai (director, Today’s Fashions) and Sajjad Hussain the match, said yesterday. Choudhry (CEO Pro Events) pose with a Qatar Stars shirt at Wyndham Hotel Sajjad Hussain Choudhry, CEO of yesterday. Pro Events, who has played an active role in bringing the cricketers to Qatar, them will guide the local players, who confi rmed the sponsors of the match. said his vision is to promote and popu- can gain experience and become bet- Wyndham Hotel, Al Zaman Exchange larise the game in the country. ter cricketers,” Choudhry said at the and Mowasalat are among the main “These international stars, by shar- launch of the event last month. sponsors. The match is scheduled for a ing the dressing room and playing with Meanwhile, the organisers have 5pm start at Asian Town Stadium. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, December 15, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT MOVING ON Bournemouth’s Howe targets Saints Williams stuns aft er downing Foxes Arsenal, Leicester suff er another loss

‘This was a good match though because we showed how we have to play — with Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe. commitment and aggression. You see the reaction of the crowd when you go for it’ Reuters come,” Howe told British me- dia after the game. “For me, I’m always looking for more and to achieve the next goal, and that’s ournemouth manager to try to beat Southampton.” Eddie Howe is deter- Bournemouth are within mined not to let his touching distance of the Euro- Bplayers rest on their pean qualifying places and a win laurels as he focuses on secur- against 11th-placed Southamp- ing a victory against Southamp- ton, would reinforce their chal- ton this weekend after his side lenge for a Europa League place beat Premier League champions but Howe is not getting carried Leicester City on Tuesday. away just yet. Bournemouth host the Saints, “The club has come so far so their south-coast rivals, on Sun- quickly, sometimes it’s maybe day having provisionally climbed nice for others to sit back and en- into eighth place on 21 points by joy the position we’re in,” he said. beating Leicester 1-0 at home. “I’m not going to say Europe, I’m “We’re building nicely. The going to say I want to make the team is growing and getting bet- team better. I want to make the ter and there’s still a lot more to team stronger.”

TIGHTENED PURSES Sunderland left with limited funds for January spending

Reuters are not going to be able to spend London to get out of trouble,” Bain told British media. Ellis Short, who bought Sun- underland will be unable derland in 2008, is reportedly to signifi cantly strength- willing to sell the club for 170 en in January and man- million pounds ($215.25 million) ager David Moyes needs and despite the expected lack toS rely primarily on the playing of investment, Bain insisted the Everton’s English-born Welsh defender Ashley Williams celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal. resources available to survive owner was not to blame. another Premier League relega- “We would listen to off ers. I AFP cause we showed how we have to play — Sanchez sent the free-kick curling past Cech from Barkley’s corner. tion battle, chief executive Mar- believe Ellis has the interests of London with commitment and aggression. You towards Everton goalkeeper Maarten Everton had Jagielka sent off after he tin Bain has said. the club at heart and he wouldn’t see the reaction of the crowd when you Stekelenburg and in seeking to clear the picked up a second yellow card, but the Despite securing three wins turn away anything that is ben- go for it and that’s what we did.” ball, Williams succeeded only in defl ect- hosts survived amid frantic late scenes in their last fi ve matches, Satur- efi cial to Sunderland,” he said. shley Williams’s 86th-minute Arsenal manager Wenger said the ing it into his own net. that saw Arsenal substitute Alex Iwobi day’s 3-0 loss at fellow strugglers “It would be a misconception header ended Arsenal’s 14-game game had been “very physical”. It was Sanchez’s 12th eff ort of the have a shot blocked on the line. Swansea City has left Sunderland to think Ellis isn’t putting mon- unbeaten run and kept Arsene “We faced many physical challenges campaign, putting him level with Chel- It was Arsenal’s fi rst league defeat bottom of the table on 11 points, ey into the club. He does fund Wenger’s side from the Pre- and that disturbed our game, but we were sea’s Diego Costa as Premier League top since their 4-3 loss to Liverpool on the two adrift of safety after 15 games. the shortfalls and is actively mierA League summit as Everton claimed a a bit unlucky to lose as well,” he said. scorer. season’s opening day and means they will “The word I’ve got for you is engaged with the football club. much-needed 2-1 win on Tuesday. “They were a bit scared at fi rst, but Everton did not look like equalising, be six points off the pace if Chelsea win at ‘limited’.I could probably say Does he still want us to succeed? Arsenal would have provisionally sup- they got their confi dence. We did fi ght, I with Romelu Lukaku and Aaron Lennon bottom club Sunderland on Wednesday. ‘very limited’ with regards to Yes. Is he taking money from the planted leaders Chelsea on goals scored cannot fault that.” slicing shots off target, but with half- Leicester remain without back-to- the January transfer window. We club? No.” with victory and took a 20th-minute lead Meanwhile, champions Leicester City time looming they drew level. back league wins this season after defeat when Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick defl ect- were brought down to earth after their Leighton Baines curled a right-foot at Bournemouth — their eighth of the ed in off Williams. 4-2 demolition of City as cross towards the back post from the left campaign — kept them in 14th place, just IN SUPPORT But Seamus Coleman equalised with Marc Pugh’s goal earned Bournemouth a and Coleman nipped in between Laurent four points above the relegation zone. a 44th-minute header before Williams’s 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium. Koscielny and Nacho Monreal to glance a Pugh marked his fi rst start of the sea- fi rst Everton goal ended his team’s fi ve- Arsenal made only one change from deft header past Petr Cech. son with the game’s only goal, slamming game winless run and sent Ronald Koe- their 3-1 win over Stoke City, fi t-again Mesut Ozil spurned a glorious oppor- home the rebound after Leicester goal- Payet handed extra man’s men up to seventh in the table. right-back Hector Bellerin replacing in- tunity to restore Arsenal’s lead early in keeper Ron-Robert Zieler saved from Be- “We showed two faces,” Everton manag- jured centre-back Shkodran Mustafi , and the second half, wafting a shot over the nik Afobe in the 34th minute. er Koeman, who had defender Phil Jagielka took a 20th-minute lead. bar from Sanchez’s cut-back, while Bar- “The result is too severe against us rest with the aim to sent off in stoppage time, told BT Sport. The goal stemmed from a comedy of kley drilled wide at the other end. because we created more chances than “The fi rst face, I hate that face because errors on the edge of Everton’s box as The noise level rose as the game wore Bournemouth,” said Leicester manager it is all about being nervous. You cannot Ross Barkley lost possession, Williams on and with four minutes to play Everton Claudio Ranieri. recapture best form lose the game like that. fouled his own team-mate Idrissa Gueye struck the winner, Williams fl ying in at “If we continue to fi ght at this level, “This was a good match though be- and Jagielka tripped Francis Coquelin. the back post to send a thudding header sooner or later we will get a good result.” Reuters London BOTTOMLINE alismanic West Ham United midfi elder Dim- itri Payet has been grant- ed extra time off to help Tthe Frenchman recapture the scintillating form he displayed Koeman goads Wenger aft er win last season and to help cope with the Premier League’s demanding AFP tion of the crowd and with a lot unlucky with his decision this festive schedule. Liverpool of aggression, you can make life season. But overall I don’t want Payet has struggled to match diffi cult. Then it is really diffi cult to speak about the referee too his exploits from the last cam- to beat Everton here. much.” paign, having scored just twice This file photo shows France’s onald Koeman reacted “We showed that after 20 in 13 league games so far as West forward Dimitri Payet (R) being sarcastically to op- minutes. We went face-to-face HALF-TIME HASSLE Ham sit 17th in the table, a point congratulated by France’s coach posite number Arsene against them and that’s what The high stakes, with Everton above the relegation zone after 15 . Wenger after Everton you have to do against teams like looking to end a fi ve-game win- matches. endedR Arsenal’s nine-month Arsenal.” less run and Arsenal seeking a It depends on how much they unbeaten away run in the Pre- Williams struck from Ross win that would have taken them “We have got to give him play or if they have any private mier League in an eventful 2-1 Barkley’s corner after Alexis to the top of the table, spilled days off to protect him. It is issues.” victory at Goodison Park. Sanchez’s 20th-minute opener over at half-time as the teams a team sport but sometimes Payet, who signed a fi ve-year Arsenal manager Wenger, de- for Arsenal, a defl ected free- left the fi eld. you have to treat individu- contract in February, made a fi ne feated for just the second time kick, had been cancelled out by Rival players exchanged words als diff erently ” start to his West Ham career last this season, blamed referee Mark Seamus Coleman’s 44th-minute and traded pushes, with James season, scoring nine league goals Clattenburg for awarding the header. McCarthy seeming to accost Ar- “Dimitri had a very demand- and adding 13 assists to propel the fi rst of a series of corners from Citing Clattenburg’s decision senal playmaker Mesut Ozil. ing season like everybody else club to seventh place, their highest which Ashley Williams headed to award a corner despite the “I was close to it and didn’t last year and then went straight top-fl ight fi nish since 2002. in the 86th-minute winner. ball appearing to have gone out see a lot there,” said Wenger. “A to the Euros,” West Ham manag- “Dimitri is experienced But Koeman responded bull- off Everton substitute Dominic little bit of pushing, but nothing er Slaven Bilic told British media enough... he had one extra day ishly and claimed he had target- Calvert-Lewin, Wenger said his dramatic.” of the France international. off when he was in the gym and ed Arsenal’s weak points by in- side had been hard done by. Wenger also insisted his play- “He didn’t have a proper rest he was on the massage table do- structing his players to adopt an “Of course it was not a cor- ers had not frozen on a big occa- or pre-season and the schedule ing a diff erent kind of training,” aggressive approach against the Everton’s manager Ronald Koeman and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger. ner,” said Wenger. “It was the sion and with a fervent Goodi- of the Premier League is one that Bilic said. Premier League title hopefuls. wrong decision. son crowd growing ever more you don’t have a winter break “That is the kind of thing you “I’m not surprised about “And that is three times in a face-to-face and win battles “You could see from outside vocal as the game progressed. and you cannot give him two or can give him to avoid the possibil- Wenger’s comments because it is row that it was about the ref- and you run and you go. Then that it was no corner. I’m very “No,” he said. “We were a lit- three weeks off . ity of fatigue and overloading. But the third time in a row that I won eree. OK, sorry Arsenal. We won you need a bit of luck and we de- disappointed because Clatten- tle bit less fresh and maybe we “We have got to give him days it is not just Dimitri, we do that as a manager at home against through the referee tonight, served that. burg was in a very good position lost a little bit of urgency when off to protect him. It is a team with other players as well when Arsenal,” said the Everton man- sorry! “If you fi ght for every ball and to see the player had the ball out. we were 1-0 up and perfectly in sport but sometimes you have you feel they are tired and have to ager after Tuesday’s game. “Their weakness is if you go are aggressive, you see the reac- “It is not the fi rst time we are control of the game. to treat individuals diff erently. change their routine a bit.” Gulf Times Thursday, December 15, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Brazil plane also limited his international chances and he has yet to crash team to appear for the national side play again Jan 29 under new Brazil coach . Brazilian football team Chapecoense said yesterday Augsburg fire they will on January 29 play Schuster in Mourinho open their first match since their squad was all but wiped out in shock move an air crash. Dirk Schuster yesterday Chapecoense rose from ob- became the sixth Bundesliga scurity to make it to the final coach fired this season after of the Copa Sudamericana Augsburg surprisingly sacked regional tournament, but the him after just six months in crash cut short their dream as charge. The 48-year-old only to off ers for Man they flew to Colombia to play. joined Augsburg from Darm- The crash on November 28 in stadt in July after predeces- the mountains of Colombia sor Markus Weinzierl left for killed 71 people, including the Schalke 04 and Schuster has team’s key players, staff and been dismissed along with management. both of his assistant coaches. Now the side is scheduled to The club says “diff erent views play at home against Interna- on the direction and the way United outcasts tional de Lage on January 29 FC Augsburg want to play in a state championship game, football” was the reason for a club off icial told AFP. the unexpected split. ‘More than off ers, I am always ready to listen to the players themselves. So any player After burying its heroes on Schuster has been shown the December 3, the club has door after six defeats, five who knocks on my door and wants to move, I will never stop a player from leaving...’ hired a new manager, Vagner draws and just three wins Mancini, to rebuild the team in from his 14 Bundesliga games its hometown of Chapeco, in in charge. southern Santa Catarina state. His replacement is the 37-year- Nine of the club’s first-team old Manuel Baum, head coach players were not on the flight of the club’s youth team, who and three miraculously sur- has a coaching licence, but vived the crash. precious little experience in Two of the players who senior football. survived returned to Brazil on Baum will be in charge “until Tuesday, including goalkeeper further notice” as Augsburg Jakson Follmann, who has had have two league games left his leg amputated. in 2016 – at home to Borussia The team’s last match was the Moenchengladbach on Sat- day before the crash. urday and away to Borussia Palmeiras beat them 1-0 to win Dortmund next Tuesday. the Brazilian league. The club is 13th of the 18 teams in Germany’s top flight and four points above the Indonesia crush relegation places. Thailand in first But last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Hamburg was only their Suzuki final first defeat in four games after Indonesia’s dream of winning draws against Hertha Berlin, the AFF Suzuki championship Cologne and Eintracht Frank- is just a step away, after the furt, who are all in the top half nation defeated defending of the table. champions Thailand 2-1 yes- With forwards Raul Bobadilla terday in Bogor, Indonesia. of Paraguay, Iceland’s Alfred Playing in the first leg of the Finnbogason and Brazil’s final at Pakansari Stadium, Thai- Caiuby all struggling with land’s Teerasil Dangda man- injuries, Augsburg have one of aged to secure the first goal of the worst goal records in the the match in minute 33. league having scored just 11 Thailand soon led the game times in 14 games. with players who seemed to Schuster joins Norbert Meier, dominate,but Indonesia didn’t who replaced him at Darmstadt, give up their hopes of winning Markus Kauczinski (Ingolstadt), the title for the first time. Dieter Hecking (Wolfsburg), Cheered on by around 30,000 Bruno Labbadia (Hamburg) supporters, the home team and Viktor Skrypnyk (Werder fought hard to win the match. Bremen) who have all been Indonesia’s Rizky Pora secured sacked since September by a goal in minute 66, earning a Bundesliga teams. huge cheer from the crowd. Less than five minutes later, File picture of Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reacting during his team’s Europa League group stage match against Fenerbahce SK. Hansamu Yama struck an- Congo to suspend other goal for Indonesia, the pro matches AFP stop a player from leaving, even if it is to the squad I have,” Mourinho added. Mourinho is conscious of the heavy home side now leading the over fears of Manchester a rival. “I would like my squad to be my squad fi xture list his team face over the second game 2-1. “When Juan Mata left Chelsea to come until the end of the season and I am not half of the campaign as they continue The match was the fifth time political unrest to Manchester United (in January 2014), going to any player to say, ‘You are going their runs in the League Cup and Europa Indonesia has made it to the anchester United manager no problem at all. In my mentality, no to leave because I am not happy, because League. final in the championship, but Congolese authorities have Jose Mourinho says he will problem at all. I am always open.” I don’t want to have you.’ United could feasibly play 65 games it has never yet won the title. instructed the country’s listen to off ers for unhappy Schneiderlin, who signed from South- “I am happy with the players I have, this season and Mourinho explained that Indonesia’s success in the professional soccer league players like Memphis Depay ampton for a reported fee of around £25 even with players that are not having is one of the reasons behind his apparent first leg comes as a surprise, to suspend matches for one Mand Morgan Schneiderlin in next month’s million ($31.7 million, 29.8 million euros), many opportunities to play.” U-turn over veteran German midfi elder as it entered the tournament month over fears the end transfer window. is yet to start a league game this season. Mourinho said players currently out- Bastian Schweinsteiger. without having played any of President Joseph Kabila’s Dutch winger Depay and French mid- The 27-year-old has played just 86 side the fi rst-team frame need only look The 32-year-old appeared to be on competitive matches since the mandate next week will spark fi elder Schneiderlin, both signed in 2015 minutes of domestic fi rst-team football at defender Phil Jones, who has capital- his way out of Old Traff ord, but has re- last AFF Suzuki Cup in 2014. stadium violence, the sports by Louis van Gaal, have been the biggest — 73 of which came in a League Cup tie ised on injuries to Eric Bailly and Chris cently returned to the fi rst-team squad The country had previously ministry said on Wednesday. losers of Mourinho’s fi rst half-season in against third-tier Northampton Town. Smalling to establish himself at centre- and made a substitute appearance in the suff ered under a one-year ban Some soccer stadiums in charge at Old Traff ord. Depay, bought for around £25 million back. recent League Cup win over West Ham from international events im- Democratic Republic of Congo Mourinho said he would not stand in from PSV Eindhoven, has seen 134 min- “From my point of view, I am happy United. posed by world soccer body have become hotbeds of anti- either players’ way if they asked to leave. utes of action in all competitions, with to keep everyone and everyone will have Now, Mourinho expects him to remain FIFA. The AFF Suzuki Cup is government activism. “I am always open to listen to off ers for his one start, also in that Northampton a chance, sometimes an unexpected with the club in the new year. the first international tourna- One popular chant heard at every player,” Mourinho said in a briefi ng cup tie, ending after just 55 minutes. chance,” said Mourinho, whose side are “I do,” said the Portuguese. “Unless ment for Indonesia after the games warns Kabila that his yesterday. Everton, desperate for a replacement sixth in the table. again the player knocks on our door with ban was lifted in May. mandate is over. “More than listen to off ers, I am always for long-term injury victim Yannick Bo- “Sometimes the chance is there, you a future that he wants to grab with both The second leg of the final “This general situation in the ready to listen to the players themselves. lasie, have been linked with Depay and get it like Jones. Unexpectedly, you have hands. will be played on Saturday in country risks spilling into “So any player who knocks on my door are also reported to be interested in Sch- Bailly out, Smalling out, everybody out “Then I never stop players doing what Thailand, which has won the the stadiums,” Barthelemy and is not happy and wants to move, neiderlin. and comes the game against Swansea and they want if — I repeat, if — the condi- AFF Suzuki Cup four times. Okito, secretary-general of the when the off ers are correct, I will never “What I can say is that I am happy with Jones is in and he is still there.” tions are right for the club.” sports ministry, told Reuters, adding that the league had Chelsea’s Oscar proved incapable of properly BOTTOMLINE close to joining securing its sports arenas. Kabila is required by constitu- Chinese club tional term limits to step down Shanghai SIPG on Dec. 19 but has said he plans to stay on until at least Chelsea’s Brazil Os- April 2018, the earliest the car is closing in on a move to government says an election Rodgers hails Celtic players Chinese club Shanghai SIPG. originally planned for last “It’s 90 percent certain,” he month can be organised. AFP keep winning but some of the through that and get the end re- told Sportv in his homeland. His opponents accuse him of Glasgow biggest ones are drive, determi- sult which is a victory. “It just depends on a few deliberately delaying the vote nation and hunger and we show “I think throughout most of bureaucratic details.” to cling to power – a charge that in bucket loads.” this season we’ve performed at a The deal would cost the Chi- he denies – and have vowed rendan Rodgers hailed Celtic had scored nine goals really high level but some games nese side a reported 60 mil- street protests to force him his side’s desire and de- in their previous three games we haven’t. lion euros ($63.85 million) ac- from off ice. termination as they se- but Hamilton, who had lost 8-1 “Tonight was one of those cording to media reports and More than 50 people died in cured a 1-0 over Hamil- on their last visit to Celtic Park games that we didn’t quite those bring him under the tutelage demonstrations in September tonB that extends their lead at the back in January, made them heights which is sometimes un- of Andre Villas-Boas, a former over election delays and world top of the Scottish Premiership work harder for their 10th league derstandable due to the number Chelsea coach who tried to powers fear protests this to 11 points. victory in a row with Leigh Grif- of games we’ve been playing. sign him while in charge at month could spark wide- The Hoops are now unbeaten fi ths scoring the only goal of the “But we showed a great de- Tottenham Hotspur. spread violence in a country in 19 games domestically - the game in the fi rst half. sire and persistence to keep go- Fellow Brazilians Hulk and that has never experienced a best ever start to a season by a It is the fi rst of six games in 18 ing. I thought Hamilton were Elkeson play for Shanghai. peaceful transition of power. Celtic manager in their debut days for the Glasgow giants and very well organised. Obviously A spokesman for the Chinese Violence “could start at the season to eclipse the record of Rodgers says mental fi tness will they’ve lost a lot of goals here in club would not comment on stadium and spread to the city. Martin O’Neill. be important at this point in the the past so they were never really the reports. It was like that in 1959,” Okito However, Rodgers, who also season. going to open up so we had to be Oscar joined Chelsea in 2012 said, referring to riots against led his side to the group stages “The number of games and patient. and has won the Premier Belgian colonial rule that of the Champions League fol- the level we have been playing at “The pitch didn’t help us as League, Europa League and broke out in January 1959 out- lowing a two-year absence and makes recovery important and I it’s really slow for the speed of League Cup with the London side the capital’s main soccer claimed the League Cup, said think it is very much about that football we want to play but we side. But after starting the stadium and helped kindle the the credit for Celtic’s storming mental fi tness,” the former Liv- got the job done in the end and it first five league games of independence movement. start to the season lay with his erpool boss said. was a good victory for us. the season under new coach Congo’s Catholic Church is players. “We all want to play beautiful “I think the boys had to re- Antonio Conte, he has fallen now mediating talks between “It’s very nice and a great football and fast-fl owing foot- ally dig in just to see it through. out of favour and been used representatives of Kabila’s mark of the players’ concen- File picture of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. ball but we can’t always do that. At 1-0 and with the chances we only four times as a substitute coalition, opposition parties tration, how relentless they’ve And when you aren’t at your best had the game should have been since September. and civil society groups in been, their drive to keep going,” when you’re winning work like succeed you have to have drive it’s about ‘can you still win’? over long before it was but we The progress of Gabriel Jesus a last-ditch eff ort to find a the Celtic manager said. you’re losing and keep working. and desire. “I think it shows the mark saw it through which is a credit and Philippe Coutinho have compromise. “The point I make to them is Be relentless. If you’re going to “You need many qualities to of the team they can still get to them.” Gulf Times 4 Thursday, December 15, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT BUNDESLIGA Werner works on Ronaldo a rare mindset aft er jeers breed, says Zidane before Japan clash RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner. AFP Leipzig are enjoying a stel- Berlin lar fi rst season in Germany’s top ‘He would be motivated even if it were a friendly, that’s just the sort of player he is. We fl ight and are currently second only to Bayern on goal diff erence have many great players at Real but it’s very rare one player wins so many awards’ B Leipzig’s top-scorer having spent the previous three Timo Werner, 20, has weeks top of the table. been working with the They host third-placed Hertha club’s psychologist after Berlin in Saturday’s key clash be- theR striker was booed during last fore their daunting away match weekend’s shock Bundesliga de- to Bayern at the Allianz Arena feat for diving in a previous game. next Wednesday in their fi nal Leipzig lost their status as league match of 2016. German league leaders to Bay- Werner’s eight league goals ern Munich on Saturday after a have been a key factor in Leipzig shock 1-0 defeat at Ingolstadt, enjoying a record 13-match un- who had started the game bot- beaten run at the start of their tom of the league. fi rst Bundesliga season before Werner endured an uncom- defeat at Ingolstadt. fortable afternoon during the Coach Ralph Hasenhuettl match in Bavaria and was whis- needs his star forward fi t to face tled and jeered by Ingolstadt fans Hertha, then Bayern in the space whenever he had the ball. of fi ve days and Werner has been He was eventually substituted helped by the club’s psychologist on 70 minutes. Sascha Lense. It was the youngster’s fi rst ap- “We’re also working with pearance since Leipzig’s sports Timo psychologically,” Hasen- director Ralph Rangnick admit- huettl told reporters. ted the Germany Under-21 in- “The situation in Ingolstadt ternational had dived to win an was certainly something new for early penalty in their 2-1 win over him, but it was an experience he Schalke on December 3. had to go through.”

FIFA SCANDAL Argentine fi rm agrees to $112.8mn settlement

AFP that corporate entities that rely New York on the US fi nancial system to enrich themselves through brib- ery will be held to account,” said Real Madrid’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) runs during their training in Yokohama yesterday ahead of their Club World Cup football match against Club America of Mexico. rgentine sports mar- US Attorney Robert Capers. keting company Tor- US prosecutors accused 40 AFP Frenchman, whose side are chasing their think I would have more than him, but he “For many of their players maybe it neos y Competencias offi cials and marketing execu- Yokohama second world title in three years this wouldn’t be far off . will be their only chance to play against S.A. agreed Tuesday tives of soliciting and receiv- week. “Everyone knows Messi is a great Real Madrid and I’m sure they will give us toA pay $112.8 million to set- ing tens of millions of dollars in “To win four Ballon d’Ors is a fabulous player,” he added. “He’s won fi ve Ballon plenty of headaches,” he said. “I told the tle charges in the United States bribes and kickbacks in a case ristiano Ronaldo is itching to achievement and it’s not an easy thing to d’Ors.” players we can’t just turn up and expect stemming from a massive FIFA that sparked an unprecedented prove just why he deserved the do. What he’s doing is absolutely incred- to win, we have to earn it.” corruption scandal, authorities crisis at FIFA. Ballon d’Or by leading Real Ma- ible — maybe he deserves a fi fth one too!” RAMOS BLOW America coach Ricardo La Volpe prom- said. Many have since pleaded drid to another Club World Cup Ronaldo closed in on Lionel Messi’s Zidane, whose Spanish table-toppers ised the Mexicans would have no fear. Torneos “admitted to its role guilty and agreed to cooperate title,C said yesterday. record fi ve awards after a remarkable year are currently on a club record 35-game “We have quality in our team too,” said in the 15-year scheme, includ- with prosecutors in exchange for The Portuguese superstar, voted the in which he helped Real dominate Europe unbeaten run, is set to leave out captain the fi rebrand Argentine, who famously ing its role in paying tens of a possible reduction in sentence. world’s best player for a fourth time ear- for the 11th time and powered Portugal to Sergio Ramos against Club America. used to incur the wrath of FIFA offi cials millions of dollars in bribes and Two companies were also ac- lier this week, will lead Real’s charge in European Championship glory. “I don’t think he will play,” said Zi- for chain-smoking on the bench. kickbacks to a high-ranking cused. Japan, where the European champions The 31-year-old talisman, whose joy dane, looking to bring Real a fi fth world “I don’t think Real Madrid are favour- FIFA offi cial to secure his sup- Only fi ve defendants are left face Mexico’s Club America in today’s has been dampened by allegations of crown. ites,” added La Volpe, whose team beat port” for broadcast rights to the under house arrest in the United semi-fi nal. tax fraud, insisted that if he and Messi “It’s not a serious problem, he’s a bit South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors 2-1 at the 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 edi- States, facing a trial that a fed- “Cristiano is hugely motivated for this played for the same team, he would have fatigued after the long fl ight and we don’t weekend. “Yes, they are a great team but tions of the World Cup, the US eral judge has recommended game — as always,” Real coach Zidane scooped more accolades than his Argen- want to take the risk. We will rest him for we will play with our heart, look to be ag- Attorney’s Offi ce for the Eastern should begin in New York late told reporters in Yokohama. tine rival. the fi nal.” gressive and take our chances.” District of New York said in a next year. “He would be motivated even if it were a “It would be interesting to see both of Zidane, who is missing Gareth Bale Barring a huge upset, Real will face statement. The US investigation rocked friendly, that’s just the sort of player he is. us in the same team,” Ronaldo told France as the Welshman recovers from ankle Kashima Antlers in this weekend’s fi nal Under the arrangement, the FIFA to the core and ultimately “Obviously we have many great play- Football. surgery, has warned his players against after the Japanese champions stunned Argentine company averts pros- led to the downfall of its former ers at Real Madrid but it’s very rare one “I think great players should play to- over-confi dence against a Club America Colombia’s Atletico Nacional 3-0 in Os- ecution if it avoids charges in the president, Sepp Blatter, who player wins so many awards,” added the gether. If we were in the same team, I side celebrating their centennial season. aka yesterday. next four years, pays fi nes and is serving a six-year ban from returns tainted funds. football over ethics violations. “Today’s announcement Blatter is now under a fresh BOTTOMLINE marks another important step investigation over alleged illicit in our continuing eff ort to root salaries and bonuses totalling out corruption in international $80 million, FIFA’s ethics com- soccer and sends a clear message mittee said in September.

Video penalty helps Japan’s MLS Antlers reach world club fi nal Galaxy promote AFP Video technology is being tri- search of the equaliser. reserve team boss Osaka aled in FIFA competitions for the The Colombian players con- fi rst time at the Club World Cup tinued to remonstrate as they in Japan. trudged off , complaining — Onalfo to head coach apan’s Kashima Antlers The system involves assistant with some justifi cation on the shocked South American referees monitoring television evidence of television replays — Reuters international veterans – Irish- champions Atletico Na- screens and relaying information that Orlando Berrio had clipped Los Angeles man Robbie Keane, Englishman cional 3-0 yesterday to on so-called “match-changing Nishi’s heel by accident. Steven Gerrard and American reachJ the Club World Cup fi nal, decisions” to the match offi cials After spending 10 seconds re- Landon Donovan. aided by a controversial fi rst-ever during the game. viewing the replays, Kassai point- urt Onalfo was named Onalfo played for the Galaxy penalty awarded by video referee. “They kept attacking relent- ed to the spot, much to the be- head coach of Major in their inaugural 1996 season Nacional’s players reacted fu- lessly,” Antlers coach Masatada musement of the Atletico players. League Soccer’s Los and has over 10 years of experi- riously after Hungarian referee Ishii told reporters. “I’m just Their frustration would have CAngeles Galaxy on ence in MLS. Viktor Kassai referred to the new relieved we held out. We hung in been all the more acute on view- Tuesday, and the club’s former He has won an MLS Cup as technology in Osaka following there and we’ve got our reward, ing replays as Nishi looked to be reserve team boss immediately both a player and a coach. complaints from the Kashima we’re in the fi nal now. We will be off side in the build-up. signalled his intent to continue “From my time as a player and bench protesting that Daigo Ni- fi ghting for all of Japan.” “We lost our organisation af- the team’s aggressive pursuit of a coach here, I know that this is shi had been tripped on the half Kashima were fortunate not to ter that fi rst goal,” said Nacional international talent. the preeminent soccer club in hour mark. be at least three goals down before coach Reinaldo Rueda. Onalfo, who has previous MLS the United States and I look for- Shoma Doi made history by the penalty incident missed by “Maybe we were too confi - head coaching experience with ward to leading this team going converting the penalty before referee Kassai, Nacional forward dent. It’s a harsh lesson but one Sporting Kansas City and D.C. forward,” Onalfo said in a state- Yasushi Endo added a cheeky Jhon Mosquera going closest for we must learn from to improve.” United, replaces Bruce Arena in ment. back-heeled goal and substi- the Colombians with a fi erce vol- Nacional had been the tour- the top job after the latter left “We have put together a fully- tute Yuma Suzuki completed ley which rattled the crossbar. nament’s sentimental favourites three weeks ago to take over as realized developmental system the rout late on, Suzuki strik- Antlers goalkeeper Hitoshi due to their incidental connec- head coach of the United States for our players and we will con- ing a Cristiano Ronaldo-style Kashima Antlers’ Yuma Suzuki celebrates scoring their third goal. Sogahata was forced to make sev- tion to the recent air tragedy men’s national team. tinue to be aggressive in signing pose in celebration. eral sharp saves before Mosquera that decimated Brazilian rivals Brazilian-born Onalfo in- world-class talent in order to The Antlers, who become the Madrid or, in the event of a seis- best team on Sunday. smashed another shot against Chapecoense, whose fl ags and herits a Galaxy team that were build the most complete roster to fi rst Japanese team to reach the mic shock, Mexico’s Club Amer- Those two sides meet in Yoko- the bar just before halftime as the replica shirts were waved in eliminated in the conference compete for MLS Cup titles each fi nal, face either Ronaldo’s Real ica for the title of the world’s hama today. Libertadores Cup holders went in tribute by Atletico fans in Osaka. semi-fi nals and just lost three season.” Gulf Times Thursday, December 15, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Kushal Das: India’s urban youth will be interested to travel to Qatar in 2022 ‘The potential hosting of the Under-20 World Cup will give India further impetus to ramp up football infrastructure and broaden grassroots initiatives such as Mission Eleven Million, which, in turn, will help to reinforce the new metropolitan football culture’

By Abilash Nalapat Doha

ndia’s football-loving, urban youth will relish the prospect of a FIFA World Cup almost on their Idoorstep in Qatar, believes a top football offi cial from the country with the world’s largest youth population. Speaking on the sidelines of the Supreme Committee for & Legacy (SC)-partnered Soccerex 2016 Asian Forum in Doha, All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Secretary Kushal Das told www.sc.qa that foot- ball could be the sport of preference for large sections of India’s youth by 2022. The AIFF was named Asia’s Devel- oping Association of the Year at the recent Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Annual Awards in recognition of its eff orts in promoting the game at all levels. “India is estimated to have an aver- age age of 29 by 2020, which will be complemented by year-on-year popu- lation growth in cities and a sharp rise in urban wages,” said Das. “Over the last few years, football has emerged as a popular sport for city-based young- sters and India’s hosting of some key competitions in the years preceding the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will ex- ponentially enhance the profi le of the sport among them.” Das, who took over in his current role in 2010 after serving as the chief fi nan- cial offi cer of the Dubai-based Interna- tional Cricket Council, added that the fi rst ever FIFA World Cup in the can directly reap the benefi ts of its geographical proximity to the world’s second most populous country. India are hosting their fi rst ever FIFA competition next year – the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup – with a legacy pro- gramme, titled Mission Eleven Million, targeting India’s youth to be launched in 30 Indian cities in December. “The Honourable AIFF President

Kerala Blasters FC forward C K Vineeth (C) heads the ball away from a Delhi Dynamos defender (obscured) during the second leg of their second semi-final Indian Super League (ISL) football match against Delhi Dynamos at The Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi yesterday. Kerala Blasters won the match on penalties to qualify for the final where they meet Atletico de Kolkata.

Praful Patel has expressed his interest pions and AFC Cup fi nalists Bengaluru has had capacity turnout in their new tember, will help popularise Indian “However, for Indian kids born in in bidding for the FIFA Under-20 World FC have a huge fanbase that includes stadium. football further. 2012, watching Neymar in 2022 will Cup, and chances are very high that In- travelling support as well,” he said. “A substantial number of these new Das said that the 2022 FIFA World be almost like travelling from one In- dia would host the tournament before fans are the urban youth and they are Cup will be the culmination of urban dian city to another. Living in one of the Qatar hosts Asia’s second ever World The AIFF was named Asia’s De- a peaceful, fun-loving audience, with India’s changing public perception of fastest growing major economies of the Cup,” he said. veloping Association of the Year women accounting for nearly 50 per- the sport. world, their parents will have the dis- “The potential hosting of the Un- at the recent Asian Football Con- cent. The emerging urban Indian foot- “In Mexico 1970, when I was 10, there posable income to travel to Qatar and der-20 World Cup will give India fur- federation (AFC) Annual Awards ball demography therefore fi ts in nicely was no television and I listened to a live the Middle East, a region with many ther impetus to ramp up football in- in recognition of its eff orts in with the family-oriented Middle East radio broadcast in Spanish of Pele play- similar cultural traits.” frastructure and broaden grassroots promoting the game at all levels World Cup that is being envisaged in ing against Italy in the fi nal and could Summarising his thoughts on the initiatives such as Mission Eleven Mil- 2022.” understand only when the commenta- 2022 FIFA World Cup, Das said: “This lion, which, in turn, will help to rein- “The Indian Super League team from Das is confident that the recent tors shouted ‘goal’. marks a remarkable success story for force the new metropolitan football , Chennaiyin FC, has consist- strides made on the pitch, such as “In Mexico 1986, some of my friends the globalisation of football away from culture.” ently had attendances of over 20,000 Bengaluru FC reaching the 2016 AFC watched the magic of Maradona on Europe and into new regions, posi- Das added that the sport has already across all three seasons of the league. Cup final and the national team’s colour television as 10-year-olds, but tively aff ecting nations with far greater All India Football Federation (AIFF) breached the urban strongholds of Delhi Dynamos have had reasonable creditable performances at the AFC watching the greats live in the stadium number of residents who are just as General Secretary Kushal Das cricket’s infl uence. “I-League cham- crowds this year and Mumbai City FC U-16 Championship in Goa in Sep- was a distant dream. passionate about the sport.” (sc.qa)

BOTTOMLINE India inspired by Iceland in grassroots expansion

Reuters 1950, pulled out without kicking a ball. Started in 2014, the scheme’s fi rst here and there, for example for playing Geneva However, the country of 1.3bn is fi - target is to give 500,000 children be- a small game which can be four against nally waking up to the most popular tween the ages of six and 14 the chance four, or seven against seven,” Hubers sport on the planet. to play football and get coaching. said. he size of the task facing Dutch- The Indian Super League (ISL) is in Hubers said fi nding spaces to play Coaching is another key element. man Piet Hubers when he its third season and Kushal Das, sec- was one of the major challenges in In- “The most important thing for the agreed to help develop grass- retary general of the All India Football dia’s teeming cities and that children ISL clubs is to educate the coaches... roots soccer in India quickly Federation, has said the country is aim- needed to play regularly. so that parents can be confi dent their Tbecame apparent with one simple com- ing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. “One training session every week children are improving,” added Hubers. parison. Hubers, a former defender for Dutch and a grassroots match every week for He said it can take 10 years of invest- Hubers discovered there are more top-fl ight club NEC Nijmegen, believes 20 weeks a season is the absolute mini- ment in grassroots football to pay off at full-sized pitches in his home town that developing the sport at grassroots mum but that is also the biggest chal- international level and believes India’s of Wijchen, which has a population of level is fundamental to India’s plans. lenge because you need good facilities, goal of reaching the 2026 World Cup is around 40,000, than in the whole of “The more players you get into the you need a playing system, you need achievable. Mumbai, which has more than 20mn system, the better the quality will be at good coaches, you must organise teams “You always must set targets... and inhabitants. the top,” he said. and that is not so easy,” he said. that’s just a target, not an obligation al- “That makes it very challenging,” The ISL, promoted by billionaire Improvisation is often the key and though it is certainly high on our wish he told Reuters in an interview held at Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries the concept of pop-up pitches, where list,” he explained. the International Sports Convention in and Rupert Murdoch’s Star India TV, organisers bring portable goals and an- “I think that qualifying for the World Geneva. of money in facilities, in halls, in artifi - cess of Icelandic football.” have their own grassroots programme nounce venues on social media, has be- Cup in 2026 is a realistic objective. Iceland, who reached the quarter- cial pitches but also in coaches. Cricket-loving India is a sleeping gi- of which Hubers is technical director. come popular. When you look at the national team fi nals of Euro 2016, are a good guide to “It’s mandatory that every coach ant as far as football is concerned. The most talented players are se- Offi cials have also attempted to per- and the national youth teams, they’re what can be achieved. is qualifi ed otherwise you can’t even The national side are 137th in the lected for a residential programme, suade private clubs and schools to make progressing very well and they will “I use Iceland very much as an exam- coach a youth team and that in my world rankings and, on the only occa- based near Mumbai, known as Young their facilities available. progress more if the grassroots system ple,” said Hubers. “They invested a lot opinion is one of the basics of the suc- sion they qualifi ed for the World Cup in Champs. “There are square metres you can use increases.” Gulf Times 6 Thursday, December 15, 2016 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Retirement ‘could hap- Curry outguns Davis, pen’ in 2017, says Nowitzki

AFP Cavs maul Grizzlies Berlin BA star Dirk Nowitzki says he could ‘We showed some moments where we were cutting into their lead, but it’s too late’ retire as early as next year, but ad- mits his dream is to play until 2018 and celebrate 20 years with the Dallas NMavericks. Nowitzki has played for the Mavericks since joining from DJK Wurzburg in 1998. The German was the NBA Finals’ MVP dur- ing the team’s 2011 championship year and is a 13-time NBA All-Star, but at 38-year-old is coming to the end of his career. “If things don’t go so well and it hurts eve- rywhere, it could be that 2017 will be the end,” the forward told German magazine Sport Bild. “Actually, my plan is to complete the 20 years and play for Dallas until 2018. “But just because I have signed a two-year contract doesn’t automatically mean that I will play for two years. It could happen next year.” Nowitzki is currently struggling with a persistent Achilles tendon problem, has not played since November 25 and says he wants to speak to Mavericks’ bosses next summer about his future. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are patiently waiting for Nowitzki to return having only played fi ve matches of the 24 games in the cur- rent NBA season. Dallas beat Denver Nuggets 112-92 on Mon- day, but remain bottom of the South-West Di- vision with six wins and 18 defeats.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (No 30) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday during the second half of their NBA game at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 113-109. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

AFP the Dubs while Klay Thompson fi n- rebounds. Love also contributed 13 James and Love on Tuesday, rather In Chicago, the Minnesota - Los Angeles ished with 17 and Draymond Green rebounds, while J.R. Smith fi lled the than split the duo up over the two berwolves overturned a 21-point made his fi rst triple double of the void left by Irving to weigh in with games. defi cit to stun the Bulls in a 99-94 season — 12 points, 12 rebounds, 10 a 23-point haul which included six “We’re home to play in front upset. Zach Lavine scored 24 points tephen Curry scored 30 assists. Green also single-handedly three-pointers. of our fans... So, with two of the while Andrew Wiggins added 23 as points to win his duel with stifl ed Davis in the fi nal 4:48, pre- The victory saw the NBA cham- Big Three, I know we can win that Minnesota chalked up an unlikely Anthony Davis as the Gold- venting the Pelicans from making a pion Cavaliers improve to 18-5, game,” Lue said. road victory to improve to 7-18 for en State Warriors dug deep single fi eld goal. tightening their grip at the top of the “It will be hard to go down and the year. toS defeat the New Orleans Pelicans “Draymond loves being in that Eastern Conference standings. travel, and to ask one person to try “It was a bad fi rst quarter,” said while the Cleveland Cavaliers de- situation,” Warriors coach Steve Zach Randolph led the scoring for to carry the team, especially the Wiggins. “But we fi xed it.” molished the on Kerr said. “He relishes it. He really the Grizzlies with 18 points and fi ve way the off ense runs,” added Lue, Jimmy Butler topscored for Chi- Tuesday. does, even against a guy like Antho- rebounds as the visitors rested All- confi rming James, Love and Irving cago with 27 points. Butler had Reigning NBA MVP Curry’s haul ny Davis, who’s so good. He’s a nasty Star center . would all miss Wednesday’s road hauled Chicago back into the contest in a 113-109 victory included fi ve defender.” trip. Grizzlies coach David Fizdale with a fade-away jumper that tied it three-pointers as well as four re- In Cleveland, Kevin Love scored Big three to be rested bemoaned a second quarter per- up at 91-91 with 1:34 left. bounds and seven assists to boost 29 points as the Cavaliers shrugged Andrew Harrison and Troy Wil- formance which saw his team fall But Lavine, Wiggins and Ricky the Warriors to 22-4 for the season. off the absence of Kyrie Irving to liams scored 13 points for Memphis behind by 22 points at one stage. Rubio combined for an eight-point Davis, second only to Russell down the Memphis Grizzlies 103- who fell to 17-9. “You can’t spot a great team that run to give Minnesota an unassail- Westbrook in the points scoring 86. Irving was given the night off Tuesday’s game at Cleveland’s many points and think you’re gonna able lead. charts this season, averaging just after complaining of tiredness in his Quicken Loans Arena was the fi rst get it going on their fl oor and make over 30 per game, scored 28 points in legs after last weekend’s victory over of back-to-back games between the a full run and come back,” Fizdale RESULTS the Pelicans’ losing eff ort. the Charlotte Hornets. two sides. said. Portland 114 Oklahoma City 95 Davis also pulled down eight re- But the 24-year-old point guard’s The Cavaliers face the Grizzlies “We showed some moments Phoenix 113 NY Knicks 111 (OT) bounds and produced three assists absence was barely felt as Cleve- again on Wednesday at Memphis’s where we were cutting into their Minnesota 99 Chicago 94 but ultimately the Warriors had too land romped home thanks to Love FedEx Forum. lead, but it’s too late. I was disap- Golden State 113 New Orleans 109 much fi repower for the home team. and LeBron James, who chipped in Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said pointed with our eff ort in the rstfi Orlando 131 Atlanta 120 Kevin Durant added 27 points for with 23 points, eight assists and six afterwards he had purposely chosen half.” Cleveland 103 Memphis 86

NFL Time for Roethlisberger, Tomlin to cement their legacies

By Paul Zeise past fi ve seasons. That’s fi ve fewer than Joe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Flacco and the same amount as Tebow. Roeth- lisberger stunk Sunday, and the Steelers still won because Le’Veon Bell ran wild, but they f Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger are won’t play a team as bad as Buff alo in the play- the elite combination they’re said to be, off s. If Roethlisberger throws three intercep- there is no excuse for the Steelers to lose tions against a playoff team, the Steelers will again until, at earliest, the AFC champi- go home. Ionship, and that’s assuming it takes place in This week they play the Bengals, who have Gillette Stadium. extra motivation to win to save Lewis’ job and For all the accolades Tomlin and Roethlis- to beat a rival. But Cincinnati is without A.J. berger have earned together, the past fi ve sea- Green and still has Andy Dalton at quarter- sons have produced one playoff win. back. If the Steelers are legitimately a Super There were excuses - a rebuilding defense, Bowl contender, they should win at this stage injuries, Tim Tebow - but now, there are no of the season. The week after _ on Christmas more excuses, unless Roethlisberger gets hurt. _ the Steelers play the Ravens at home in what It’s time for both coach and quarterback to ce- will likely be for the AFC North champion- ment their legacies and prove they weren’t a ship. The Ravens are tough and motivated, but product of great defenses built by Bill Cowher. the Steelers should win a home game with the Tomlin has 100 wins and a Super Bowl tro- division title on the line. They fi nish with the phy, but his most impressive work came in his Browns at home, and if they lose that game fi rst four years. It could be argued the past six they should probably reconsider the way they years have been underwhelming. Tomlin is a play football. good coach, but he needs to re-establish him- It’s not realistic to believe a team should win self. big every year. There are many circumstances From 2011-2015, Tomlin was 49-31 with preventing that from happening, unless you’re three trips to the playoff s and a 1-3 record in the Patriots. But the Steelers are fi nally good those trips. He won the AFC North Division enough to win in the playoff s, and it’s time for once in those fi ve years. Bengals coach Marvin Tomlin and Roethlisberger to deliver. Lewis, in that same time period, was 52-27- The Steelers went through some adversity 1, with fi ve trips to the playoff s and an 0-5 in earlier in the season, and Tomlin did a great job those trips. He won the AFC North twice. of navigating choppy waters. They’ve won four You tell me who was better, especially con- in a row and put themselves in position to be a sidering one had Andy Dalton at quarterback factor in the playoff s. They must seize the mo- and the other had a Hall of Famer. Lewis did a ment, and anything short of a trip to the AFC better job with far less to work with at quarter- championship will be yet another failure for a back than Tomlin. coach and quarterback who have had fi ve un- Roethlisberger has one playoff win in the derwhelming years in a row. Mike Tomlin with Ben Roethlisberger. Gulf Times Thursday, December 15, 2016 7 SPORT

NHL FOCUS Sharks come back to beat Maple Minnesota Wild rout Leafs in shootout

By Curtis Pashelka through 40 minutes came The Mercury News shorthanded. The Sharks were without Marc Edouard Vlasic, who he Sharks came alive was scratched for the fi rst Panthers 5-1 for 5th with two goals late time this season as he con- in the third period tinued to recover from a lower then had Logan Cou- body injury he suff ered Satur- tureT score the only goal in the day against the Carolina Hur- shootout to earn an unlikely ricanes. 3-2 win over the Toronto Ma- David Schlemko, back in ple Leafs on Tuesday at Air the lineup after missing three Canada Centre. games with his own lower- consecutive victory Martin Jones made 29 body injury, took Vlasic’s spot saves, including two stops in on the Sharks’ fi rst defense overtime, and saved shots by pair with Braun. Dylan DeMe- ‘Obviously you learn from every game, but this was a tough one’ Mitch Marner, Auston Mat- lo, playing his fourth straight thews and Nikita Soshnikov game, was on the third pair in the shootout to cap the with Brenden Dillon. By Michael Russo win for the Sharks, who still Matthews got free near Star Tribune (Minneapolis) haven’t lost in Toronto since the faceoff dot to the right of 2002. Jones to help set up the Maple Matthews had a goal and Leafs’ fi rst goal. aybe, just maybe, the person- an assist for the Maple Leafs, Matthews, Toronto’s fi rst ality of this team is diff erent who had a 2-0 lead after two overall draft pick in June, took than yesteryear. periods. a pass from William Nylander In previous years, if the Justin Braun scored his fi rst and put a shot on net that was MWild were riding a four-game winning of the season with 7:17 to go tipped in front by Zach Hy- streak and facing a non-divisional op- in the third period to give the man past Jones for a 1-0 Leafs ponent that didn’t exactly get the blood Sharks some life as they cut lead. boiling like heated adversaries from, say, the Maple Leafs’ lead to one. Matthews then made it 2-0 Winnipeg or St. Louis, the Wild would be Just 2:07 later with the Sharks at the 7:46 mark of the second almost a sure-thing for a letdown. on their sixth power play, Joe period. But Tuesday night, the Wild didn’t slam Pavelski tied the game 2-2 as With the Leafs on a 5-on- on the brakes. They kept the gas pedal he tipped a shot from the blue 3 after penalties to Tommy pressed during a 5-1 pounding of the Flor- line from Brent Burns for his Wingels and Matt Nieto three ida Panthers to move into second place in ninth of the season. seconds apart, Matthews took the Central Division. In improving to 7-1- The Sharks went 0-for-4 a pass from Nylander at the 3 in their past 11 games, the Wild got goals on the power play in the fi rst side of the Sharks goal and slid from their top three lines. two periods but also had trou- it under Jones for his 13th goal Line 1: Zach Parise snapped a seven- ble building momentum at of the season. game goal drought and Eric Staal batted in even strength and establish- The Sharks had 11 shots on a rebound of his own breakaway out of the ing a forecheck. They man- goal on their fi rst four tries air. Line 2: Jason Zucker had a goal and as- aged just 13 shots at even with the man advantage but sist and Mikko Koivu scored his fi fth goal strength through the fi rst two couldn’t solve Andersen, who in 10 games. Line 3: Erik Haula buried a periods, and perhaps their had 26 saves through the fi rst rebound for the eventual winner. best scoring chance overall two periods. Panthers killer Jason Pominville and Jo- nas Brodin had two assists each and NHL goals-against average and save percent- age leader Devan Dubnyk made 29 saves to improve to 7-0-2 in his past nine. It was the Wild’s fi fth consecutive win overall and at home, and they improved to a conference-best 9-3-1 against the East. Compare that to last season’s 13- 16-3 record against the East, and it’s easy to see why the Wild continue to climb up the standings. Maybe one reason the Wild didn’t take its fi rst off the gas was because it played with a little attitude. Panthers defenseman Dylan McIlrath got into two fi ghts, one with Kurtis Gabriel, the other with Chris Stewart. That didn’t go well for him; Stewart opened him up like a can of tomato sauce. “Obviously you learn from every game, but this was a tough one,” Panthers center The Minnesota Wild’s Erik Haula (L) celebrates with Nino Niederreiter after scoring a goal in the second period against the Florida Pan- Nick Bjugstad said. “We knew they play a thers at the Xcel Energy Centre in St. Paul, Minnesota. PICTURE: Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS tight style and they capitalize on chance. I think we had more shots but that doesn’t and Mark Wheler, who also were booting that sailed into the net. before he made it 2-0. It was Bjugstad’s mean anything when you give up odd- centermen left and right. There were also Haula’s former Gophers teammate fourth career game in Minnesota, and man rushes and they capitalize on them.” 11 minutes in Wild penalties, including thought he scored his third career goal his mom, Janeen, bought a “boatload” of The Wild and their fans also were ag- three minors and Gabriel’s fourth fi ght in later in the period, but for the third time tickets from the Wild to give to family and gravated with the offi ciating. Not only six games. this season, the Wild was successful chal- friends. “I don’t have near the amount of were there some blatant non-calls, the But 43 seconds after the Wild killed off lenging an off side. Replays showed Derek people coming that Nick does. I have like Wild didn’t get their fi rst power play until a Gabriel minor, Parise scored his fi fth MacKenzie beat the puck into the zone 25,” Rau said before the game. 8:33 left in a 5-0 game. By that point, the goal of the season. Jonas Brodin hit Pom- and Rau’s goal was erased. Wild killed fi ve power plays. inville at the blue line, and Pominville That proved big because right after, RESULTS It was another unsuccessful start at hit Parise entering the Florida zone with Pominville hit Staal for a breakaway. Blue Jackets 3 Oilers 1 Xcel Energy Center for Roberto Luongo. speed. Parise wristed a shot from inside Luongo denied the initial shot, but Staal Blackhawks 2 Rangers 1 Starting with a 0-0 tie in 2000, Luongo the left circle under Luongo’s glove for his batted the rebound out of mid-air for his Capitals 4 Islanders 2 fell to 3-12-3 all-time in St. Paul and his fi rst goal since Nov. 25. seventh goal of the season. Hurricanes 8 Canucks 6 winless streak here stretched to 0-6-1. He The Wild had to kill off another penalty It was an unfortunate homecoming Predators 6 Blues 3 gave up fi ve goals on 17 shots to be pulled to start the second, but 1:13 later, Haula for Nick Bjugstad and Rau, the back-to- Coyotes 4 Red Wings 1 for the fourth time in those seven starts. buried Nino Niederreiter’s rebound for back Minnesota Mr. Hockey winners in Stars 6 Ducks 2 San Jose Sharks centre Joe Pavelski (No 8) celebrates his ty- The fi rst period was painstakingly long. the former Gopher’s fi fth goal. Charlie 2010 and 2011. Bjugstad has no points in Sharks 3 Maple Leafs 2 (s o) ing goal in the third period with defenseman Brent Burns and There were 26 faceoff s, including sev- Coyle set the whole play up, and even ap- 11 games this season and didn’t pick up his Sabres 6 Kings 3 center Joe Thornton (No 19) against the Toronto Maple Leafs at eral re-drops by linesmen Greg Devorski peared to leap over Haula’s oncoming shot old roommate, Haula, on the backcheck Wild 5 Panthers 1 Air Canada Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

BASEBALL Brewers deal Maldonado to Angels for Bandy

By Tom Haudricourt “He comes with an above- for them, mostly as a backup to Bandy said he was still “trying Milwaukee Journal Sentinel average defensive profi le across Jonathan Lucroy. When Lucroy to digest” news of the trade but the board. He has been a very was traded last Aug. 1 to Texas, said he would come to spring successful catcher in controlling the defensive-minded Maldo- camp ready to show what he can ilwaukee Brew- the running game throughout nado did the bulk of the catching do. ers general man- his career. That stems from both with Manny Pina, and later An- “I heard it was a good oppor- ager David Stearns a strong arm and exceptionally drew Susac, backing him up. tunity,” said Bandy, whose unu- is constantly work- accurate arm. He handles pitch- In 76 games, Maldonado bat- sual fi rst name is a hybrid of his Ming to make his rebuilding club ing staff s well. ted .202 with a .332 OBP, .683 father, John, and grandfather younger with players with up- “On the other side of the ball, OPS, eight home runs and 21 Chester, known as Chett. side and he found a way to do he has a great deal of raw power RBIs. Overall, he played in 355 “I’m going to come in, play that with his catching corps that we think can translate into games for the Brewers, compil- hard and do the best I can. My Tuesday. increased home run (numbers) ing a .217 batting average, .299 goal every year is to get better. Stearns traded veteran back- as he continues to mature in the OBP, 28 homers and 111 RBIs. I’m a big guy and I’m still learn- up catcher Martin Maldonado major leagues. He has growth Maldonado was in his second ing my swing. and minor league pitcher Drew left on the off ensive side of his year of arbitration and projected “I hate striking out (38 in 231 Gagnon to the Los Angeles An- game.” to make $1.6mn in 2017. plate appearances). It’s kind of a gels for Jett Bandy, who shared In 70 games with the Angels Stearns said he and manager pride thing for me. I like making catching duties with Carlos Pe- last season, Bandy batted .234 Craig Counsell would go into contact, putting the ball in play rez as a rookie in 2016. with a .281 on-base percentage spring training with an “open and seeing what happens.” At 26, Bandy is four years and .673 OPS, with eight home mind” about how playing time Gagnon, 26, was a third-round younger than Maldonado and runs, 25 runs batted in, 11 walks will shake out with Bandy, Pina draft pick in 2011 who converted controllable through 2021. Mal- and 38 strikeouts. A 31st-round and Susac. Only two are likely to from starting to bullpen duty last donado has two years until free draft pick out of Arizona in 2011, be kept out of camp. season. He pitched in 36 games agency. he threw out 40 percent (19 of “We have three catchers that and went 3-1 with a 4.48 ERA. “We think we’re adding a 48) runners attempting steals. we believe are major league ca- The Brewers also signed veter- catcher with an extended period Bandy also played in 24 games liber,” Stearns said. “That’s a an reliever Ryan Webb to a minor of control who presents a well- at Class AAA Salt Lake City, bat- good place to be. How play- league contract with an invita- rounded skill set,” Stearns said. ting .274 with a .314 OBP, two ing time actually breaks down, tion to big league camp. Webb, “He complements nicely the homers and 21 RBIs. it wouldn’t surprise me over 30, has made 375 appearances for group of catchers we have at the Maldonado, who signed with the course of the season if that fi ve clubs, most recently Tampa major-league level and upper the Brewers as a free agent in changes a little bit.” Bay, posting a 17-18 record and levels of the minor leagues. early 2007, played fi ve seasons The 6-foot-4, 235-pound 3.43 ERA. Veteran backup catcher Martin Maldonado. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, December 15, 2016 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT AFC CL Injury and Illness Lions will be ‘ready to Prevention Programme rumble’ in NZ: Hansen launched ‘The Six Nations are in good shape and playing good rugby so I’m very excited about it’

AFP Wellington

ll Blacks coach Steve Hansen said yesterday that the British and Irish Lions’ vast depth would ensure theyA coped with next year’s gruelling tour schedule in . The Lions play 10 matches on tour, including six before the fi rst Test in Auckland, prompting concerns that players who have just completed their domestic seasons will be ex- hausted for the internationals. Agencies But Hansen said the sides that Kuala Lumpur contribute players to the Lions — England, Wales, Ireland and Scot- land — had numerous quality players he AFC Champions League (CL) Injury who could slot into the squad. and Illness Surveillance Programme “In every position they’ve got real was launched in the Malaysian capital depth,” he told Radio Sport. city yesterday. “These guys are going to be able TTwenty-two team doctors attended the to play a really strong midweek team one-day workshop organised by the AFC Sport and also have a very strong Test team Medicine Department and Aspetar, the Ortho- who are going to be fresh and ready paedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar, to rumble.” on how to systematically record injuries and Hansen predicted Lions coach illnesses in their clubs. Warren Gatland would adopt the The subsequent study, planned to run over same high-tempo, expansive game two seasons, will ultimately allow teams to plan he employed with the Wales better understand the characteristics of inju- national team. ries and illnesses in Asian elite players – and But he expected the Lions to im- how to prevent them. plement it more effi ciently that the AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John, Welsh, who slumped to a 3-0 series in his opening remarks, said: “The fi eld of defeat in New Zealand this year af- sports medicine has taken greater prominence ter failing to match the All Blacks’ today, more so than ever. In many ways, this intensity. shift in focus can be attributed to the global “The quality of play will be a lot competitive nature of football. higher than we’ve had from the The demands on players to perform at their Welsh team,” Hansen said. best further emphasise the need for the medi- “That’s no disrespect to the Welsh cal community. The prevention of injuries team, it’s just the quality of the and illnesses relies on developing a sound risk people they’re going to have in that management plan for each athlete and team.” squad.” Adopting best practices from the UEFA Some past Lions tours have de- Champions League, the AFC in partnership scended into bickering between with Aspetar plan to investigate injuries and cliques of players from diff erent na- illnesses involving the continent’s top clubs in tions and Hansen said a major chal- Israel Dagg have all been linked to the AFC Champions League Injury and Illness lenge for Gatland was striking the overseas clubs, which would make England captain Hartley banned for six weeks Prevention in a scientifi c study over the next right balance. them ineligible to play for the All two seasons to obtain detailed information on “If you don’t manage it well then Blacks. England captain Dylan Hartley was off ences to deter and eradicate high no-go area.” the injury frequency, severity, occasions and you have the opportunity for it to “You’re never going to retain eve- banned for six weeks yesterday tackles. Meanwhile the French rugby federa- patterns. Ultimately, this will allow for tailored turn into a disaster,” he said. rybody because we don’t have the after he was sent off for striking an Minimum on-field sanctions will be tion (FFR) has abandoned plans for prevention measures to protect players’ health same amount of money as the Eng- opponent playing for his club North- introduced throughout the game a new stadium that was scheduled and form, which is in line with the AFC’s Vi- ‘Really good side’ land and the French (clubs), that’s ampton, European Professional Club for reckless and accidental contact to open in 2023, president Bernard sion and Mission to ensure the success of He said the All Blacks were relish- just the reality,” he said. rugby said in a statement. with the head, measures that will ef- Laporte said on Wednesday. Asia’s players and teams on the world’s biggest ing the prospect of taking on a Lions “Will we keep all three of them? The 30-year-old hooker, who will be fectively lower the acceptable height “The board of directors has stages. side containing some of the best the Probably not, but if we can keep two available for the start of England’s of the tackle. validated the final shut-down of the Acting Director General of Aspetar Dr Mo- resurgent Northern Hemisphere na- out of the three then that would be Six Nations campaign, was shown a A global education programme will Grand Stade project,” Laporte, who hamed Ghaith al-Kuwari, said: “It is time that tions have to off er. a positive.” red card for a swinging arm tackle support the measures. was elected on December 3, told Asian players and teams benefi t from the same “(They) know they’re facing a re- Fly-half Cruden has found him- shortly after coming on as a replace- “The approach, approved by the reporters. scientifi c rigour and insight as their counter- ally good side, it’s not as if they’re self behind Beauden Barrett in the ment in the European Champions World rugby Council after extensive The stadium, which would have parts in Europe. Aspetar is proud to contribute facing a poor Lions team,” he said. All Blacks’ pecking order, while Cup match against Leinster on expert, independent and union been built in Ris-Orangis, some 35km to this landmark study that might change the “The Six Nations are in good Smith is 30 and comes off contract Friday. evaluation, combines with new dis- from central Paris, had an estimated way we prevent injuries in Asian football.” shape and playing good rugby so I’m in 2017. Rugby union’s world governing body ciplinary sanctions and a re-focus of cost of 581 million euros ($619.11mn). The workshop elaborated on the importance very excited about it.” Dagg is also approaching the end announced new measures to protect match off icials on dangerous play,” France will continue to play most of injury prevention by introducing surveil- Hansen also admitted he was re- of his international career and has players from head injuries. World rugby said. of their home games at the Stade lance tools. The medical staff learned how to signed to losing at least one of his already proved a point to selectors World rugby said in a statement that “It will provide a package of meas- de France, which was inaugurated systematically use these tools in their daily backline stars to off ers from cashed- by forcing his way back into the All from Jan. 3 two new categories of ures that aims to change culture in in 1998 with a friendly soccer game routine during an intense break-out session. up European clubs. Blacks this year after being dropped dangerous tackles will carry penalty the sport to ensure that the head is a against Spain. Champions League clubs will be invited to par- Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith and for the 2015 World Cup. ticipate in the two-year study.

Rassan wins Al Karana Cup

Nayef bin Maica al-Ahbabi and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi with the winners of the Al Karana Cup, after Rassan won the 2000m race at the QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim Jockey Harry Bentley (left) rides Rassan to victory in the Al Karana Cup at the QREC yesterday. Gulf Times Thursday, December 15, 2016 9 SPORT

FOCUS Valegro farewell is new chapter for Dujardin Reuters Olympic title while also taking a team member Carl Hester. She stared open- London silver. Her fi ance Dean Golding, in the mouthed and went ‘Wow’. A file photo of British rider crowd, wore a shirt with the words “I guess it’s like when you get a boy- Charlotte Dujardin with her “Can we get married now?” on it but he friend or a girlfriend and you kind of horse Valegro. (Reuters) he greatest partnership in dres- is still waiting for a date. know that person’s for you. I like really sage will come to an emotional “I’ve done so many interviews about fast horses, I like really sensitive hors- end when Charlotte Dujardin my wedding it’s put me off ,” she says es...and he was all those things,” said and Valegro make their fi nal with a smile. “One day I’m going to do Dujardin. competitiveT appearance together. It will it. I’m just going to nip away and have “It’s like sitting in a Ferrari and going not, however, be the end of a love story the smallest, secret wedding that no- ‘yes, I love that power’. That’s what he’s that has captivated millions around the body knows about.” like. He has so much power, so much world since the pairing won individual Tokyo in four years’ time is already ability and his trainability is incredible. and team golds at their home 2012 Lon- on the radar and Dujardin has several I just remember getting on him, loving don Olympics. promising rides, with Mount St John it and thinking he’s the perfect horse. “I don’t think there will ever be a Freestyle exciting those in the know. We read each other. He knows when I’m horse that can replace Valegro,” Dujar- Valegro, though, can look forward to a little bit tense or nervous and he can din, 31, said in an interview after lead- a pampered new life, cantering in the reassure me and I can do it for him.” ing the 14-year-old gelding out for the fi elds and making celebrity appearances. Hester, who rejected huge sums for cameras at the London International “He’s just somebody that has been a the horse after the London Games, is Horse Show at Olympia. friend always,” said Dujardin. “Going to promising to keep Valegro active as a “But I do have some really nice up- competitions and not having him there, global ambassador for dressage. and-coming horses as well behind him. that will be the hardest thing. But...he’s “He can’t breed because he’s a geld- I look at it that it’s sad but it’s not the still at the stables. If I want to ride him ing and basically he would just turn into end of Valegro. He’s still going to be I can ride him. He’s always going to be a great, fat lard if you just turned him seen but just not competing. It’s the there. I’m going to go off and do dem- out in a fi eld because he is an eater. He start of another chapter.” onstrations around the world with him. defi nitely is an eater,” he says. Together, Dujardin and Valegro won I’ve always got that to look forward to “That goes a little bit with his per- everything there was to win in dressage, so it’s not the end of him.” sonality because he’s so chilled and laid where horse and rider perform a highly- Dujardin recalled her fi rst reaction to back. Wherever you put him he’s just trained routine choreographed to music. the horse that would transform her life. like: ‘I’m eating’. He’s got to be kept rid- At the Rio de Janeiro Games in Au- Valegro was four years old and being den to maintain fi tness and suppleness. gust, Dujardin retained her individual ridden by co-owner and British team He won’t be just doing nothing.”

SPOTLIGHT Olympic recognition a result of Bobsleigh and skeleton increasing appeal for cheerleading world championships Reuters Orlando, Florida

heerleading, which received provisional recognition as an COlympic sport last week, is an increasingly international activity taken away from by no means restricted to its North American birthplace, according to the man who has driven its growth ‘It’s a consequence of the McLaren Report... in principle there could be decisions on a whole range of sports’ over four decades. Jim Webb has helped transform cheerleading from sideline enter- Reuters tainment at American football and Zurich WADA investigator Richard McLaren’s games to the sport that second report said 1,000 Russian athletes, was granted recognition by the across several sports, had benefited from an International Olympic Committee. he doping scandal that has en- institutionalized doping system from 2011 Cheerleading will now be able to gulfed Russian sport claimed to 2015. The 2014 Winter in tap into some IOC funding and take another casualty yesterday Sochi and the 2012 London Olympics were part in a number of programmes, when the 2017 bobsleigh and particular targets of the programme. including athlete development and Tskeleton world championships were anti-doping. taken away from Sochi amid the grow- At the end of their three-year ing threat of a boycott. provisional recognition period, they Latvia had already pulled out of the can apply to become part of the February 13-26 event following last week’s publication of the second part Olympic Games sports programme. of the McLaren Report into Russian While cheerleading’s strong doping which revealed an institutional youth appeal was clearly attractive conspiracy to conceal positive tests. to the IOC, widespread internation- South Korea, hosts of the 2018 Win- al participation is also key to taking ter Olympics, and skeleton athletes from the next steps towards a place at the United States had also been consid- the Summer Games. ering withdrawing from the champion- With over 100 national federa- ships in protest at Russian doping. tions registered with the Interna- The new venue will be decided in tional Cheer Union (ICU), Webb is the next few days, the International certain the competitiveness of the Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation sport would not be confined to just (IBSF) said in a statement. Germany North America. had already said it was willing to host “When we first started our world the competition if it was switched. championships there was a big The decision to move the champi- gap between the US and Canada onships was politicised and without and now there is a lot of parity with grounds, Russia’s RIA news agency countries from Europe and Asia quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry that win medals and that some- Peskov as saying. Vitaly Smirnov, head times beat the US and Canadian of Russia’s anti-doping commission, teams,” he told Reuters. told the R-Sport news agency that “Thailand has some great cheer- other sports could now choose to move leading. Japan has outstanding competitions away from his country. sports director Thomas Schwab said. cusations and discussions — whether drugs in sport. “We need to move with US Olympic chiefs support cheerleading. Some of the countries “It’s probably a consequence of the “We would be very unhappy if it took justifi ed or not”. move, but oppose boycotts a sense of urgency. McLaren Report... in principle there place there. We have off ered the Inter- It also praised the “great eff ort” of “I think that’s important. We need in Europe, Norway, Finland, Germa- could be decisions on a whole range of national Bobsleigh and Skeleton Fed- the Russian Bobsleigh Federation in United States Olympic chiefs too to make sure that we have the interna- ny, the UK has outstanding cheer- sports,” Smirnov said. eration to jump in and host the event. preparing for the championships but backed the decision to move the world tional federations, and the NOCs, and leading. It’s developing everywhere.” Russia is due to host the eighth stage We would welcome a move of the event said the “current climate” would make championships out of Russia but said WADA, and national governments all The addition of cheerleading and of the Biathlon World Cup in Tyumen to another location,” he said before the it nearly impossible for the event to be the organisation remained opposed to on the same page,” Blackmun said. the Thai martial art of muaythai from March 7-12, the ISU World Cup IBSF announcement. fully appreciated in Russia. boycotts of future events in the drug- “It’s not a simple issue. last week takes the number of Speed Skating fi nal in Chelyabinsk The IBSF decided to switch the Last Friday, World Anti-Doping tarnished country. “If you asked everybody how the recognised Olympic sports to 37, (March 10-12) and the cross-country championships from Sochi after say- Agency investigator Richard McLaren United States Olympic Committee system works today I’m not sure you’d only 28 of which were part of the World Cup fi nal in Tyumen from March ing last week it would “act promptly published the second part of his report chief executive Scott Blackmun said get a consistent response, even from in- programme at the Rio Olympics 16-19. The country is also staging soc- and decisively following the publica- into state-sponsored doping in Rus- the IBSF had made the right decision formed stakeholders. So I think it’s im- earlier this year. cer’s 2018 World Cup and four of the tion of the fi nal McLaren Report” after sia. The Canadian lawyer said 1,000 following widespread unease among portant that we take what we’ve learned “One of the problems for the Olym- 2020 European Championship matches reading and digesting it. Russian athletes, across several sports, athletes due to compete in Russia. from the McLaren Report and apply it to pic Games is there are just so many including one of the quarter-fi nals. McLaren’s report said analysis of had benefi ted from an institutional- “We fully support the decision bob- the future. sports and that could change,” Webb The IBSF said the switch from So- samples from four Russians who won ized doping system from 2011 to 2015. sled made today,” Blackmun said. “It “This is not just an issue in one added. “But when somebody goes chi, host city of the 2014 Winter Ol- gold medals in Sochi had shown salt The 2014 , held seemed like the right thing to do given country. It’s an issue around the world in, somebody has to go out and of ympics, was made for two main rea- readings that were physiologically im- in Sochi, and the 2012 London Olym- how strongly the athletes felt about and it’s going to require that everybody course we’re not interested in creat- sons. Firstly, to allow athletes and possible. There was also evidence of pics, were particular targets of the going to Russia.” around the world makes an investment ing any enemies. There’s so many coaches from all nations to participate tampering with the samples of 12 Rus- Russian doping programme. However, Blackmun said that while in trying to ensure that clean athletes sports being formed now that it’s in a competition that focuses on sport sian medallists at those Games. “We’re compelled to accept the IBSF USOC supported stripping Russia can compete cleanly.” tough, it’s a crowded space and they rather than accusations and discus- decision to move the championships of the championships, the organisa- USOC chairman Larry Probst vet you very, very thoroughly.” sions, whether justifi ed or not. from Russia to a diff erent country,” Rus- tion remained opposed to “sport-by- said the committee was looking Webb, who founded his cheer- Secondly, because the organisers IOC welcomes decision sian media quoted a statement from the sport” boycotts of other events. forward to working with the adminis- leading promotional company have worked hard to prepare for the Meanwhile, the International Olympic Russian bobsleigh federation as saying. “I don’t think we support a boycott tration of US President-elect Donald Varsity Sports in 1974, is very clear event but their eff orts will inevitably be Committee (IOC) welcomed the deci- “Given the situation as it is, the IBSF of any kind,” Blackmun added. Trump, who recently called Inter- overshadowed by recent developments. sion to remove the event. “The IOC found itself in the face of a possible “At the end of the day our athletes national Olympic Committee chief on what the sport can off er the The statement added: “The IBSF welcomes the decision taken by the split in the sport and a mass boycott need to have the opportunity to be to express support for Olympic movement. asks all members and athletes for fair IBSF which is fully in line with the rec- of the competitions. Circumstances well-informed and make decisions Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Summer “One of the key components play and respect which also includes ommendations of the Olympic Sum- like these ones rule out good decisions about where they compete. Games. of what we do that makes it very the assumption of innocence for any mit and the IOC Executive Board,” an and therefore our counterparts had to “It’s not our job as an NOC (Na- “He’s very excited about the diff erent is that visual eff ect of so athlete, regardless of national affi lia- IOC spokesman said. choose the smaller of the two evils.” tional Olympic Committee) to make thought of having the Olympic Games many people doing these diff er- tion, until proven guilty.” The IBSF said the decision would Russia is still scheduled to host decisions about international events.” in the United States in 2024,” Probst ent stunts and skills at the same Germany had ruled out boycotting “allow athletes and coaches from all various winter sport events in 2017, in- Blackmun described the report’s said of Trump. “I think we’ve got a fan time that make it very appealing to the event but wanted it moved from nations to participate in a competition cluding in the cross-country and bia- fi ndings as “stunning” and called on a who will be in the White House... and watch,” he added. Sochi, their bobsleigh federation (BSV) that focuses on sport rather than ac- thlon World Cups. unifi ed response to address the issue of that’s a good thing.” Gulf Times 10 Thursday, December 15, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Amir now set to shape Test series in Australia The comeback story is done: to domestic cricket, Pakistan selection, international cricket in New Zealand, Tests at Lord’s. All that is behind him, as we can only hope are the circumstances of his ban. Ahead of him is Australia, and conditions that Amir may be well placed to use

Pakistani paceman Mohamed Amir gestures during a practice session at Gabba in Brisbane on the eve of a day and night cricket Test match against Australia.

By Geoff Lemon times away from a groping bat, other Patrick Cummins, Australia’s theoreti- them have had the injury complications his 30s with a more robust frame. We saw his danger in the tour game The Guardian times inward to pad or stumps. Finding cal speed sensation, who played his fi rst that young fast bowlers display: stress That frame will deliver the pink Test in Cairns: the XI fac- that length, just short enough for move- Test in late 2011 and hasn’t been back fractures, back problems, groin strains, ball at the Gabba this week. Amir has ing Amir under lights gave him three ment to be most eff ective, full enough to since. His fi ve years on the sidelines the murmured catechism of late-night been to Australia before: he shocked for three runs before stumps. t the World Twenty20 in India have batsmen coming forward. have been enforced by injury, but they sports reports. the MCG with his fi rst fi ve- Anyone facing him in the last hour dur- last April, a strange thing kept Later in an innings, the spell would haven’t stopped him being talked up as Cummins, after endless strains and haul, comprising the names Ponting, ing Brisbane’s Test will likely wish they happening. Every time Paki- break. Not one for the pragmatic de- a potential matchwinner, a potential twangs, is back bowling fast for Aus- Hussey, Clarke, North and Haddin. He were somewhere else. The tour game stan started a new innings in fence of cross-seamers, wide yorkers, tourist to India in February, a potential tralia, who have a ghost attack – a set was 17 years old at the time, whippet- also showed Pakistan’s traditional theA fi eld, a slender young man with a slow bouncers, Amir would be slogged Ashes player next year. of genuinely scorching pace bowlers in thin, with a white headband, ghostface struggles on Australian pitches, but dubious goatee would take the new ball. away like any other player for dimes Of course there are diff erences be- their prime – quietly assembling sunscreen, and an adolescent fringe Australia too has frailties with the bat, He would approach light-footed to the and dozens, a fi ne crystal vase used for tween physical and ethical rehabilita- All of which means that a fast-bowl- fl opped over one eye. These days the and the CA XI side’s destruction tells of crease and expel its lacquered shine in slurping cheap lager. But at each be- tion: injured players are far more able to ing career starting in his teens could frame has fi lled out a little, the beard the strength of Pakistan’s bowling. a whip of arms. It would fl icker down ginning, for an over or two, there was be involved with cricket clubs, boards, well have seen Amir spending substan- gives him the look of an IT professional If the old heads Misbah-ul-Haq and the wicket, most often into the keeper’s a moment when everyone forgot not to and teams while suspended, and have a tial parts of the last fi ve years sidelined living out a daydream, and he must be Younis Khan, the obdurate Azhar Ali, gloves, a fl ash of white so fi erce that respect the craft. There was a moment level of fi nancial support. But at a ba- with injury. Such injuries could have heartily sick of being whacked into the the counterattacking Sarfraz Ahmed, from the stands, you were sure it left when he was treated like a bowler. sic level, bowlers spending long periods tested his patience with rehab and re- middle of redemption narratives every- can cobble together enough to bowl to, a brief boomerang after-image on the He shouldn’t have been there. of the game before the age of 25 is lapse. They could have left him physi- where he goes. that attack can shine. This series in its retina. for any moral reasons, but because fi ve more rule than exception. cally hampered in ways he now isn’t, The comeback story is done: to do- entirety could be a battle of the quicks, In a tournament where Hulk-rage years out of the game with suspension Amir is 24, and returned to Test having avoided irreparable damage mestic cricket, Pakistan selection, in- and in a series made for bowlers rather batsmen pounded along at eight, 10, 12 seemed like too much for a player to cricket this year. Across his career he from over-bowling too young. It’s a ternational cricket in New Zealand, than blasts over the sightscreen, Amir runs an over, Mohamed Amir rendered overcome. How could he hope to reach has played 22 Tests. By his 25th birth- stretch to say that a match-fi xing sus- Tests at Lord’s. All that is behind him, could yet put himself foremost among them mute, immobile, human-sized col- his previous standards? How could that day, had played 13. pension was a blessing in disguise, but as we can only hope are the circum- them. Contribute to a series win in umns of confusion. He could slim bloated fallow time not have dragged him back had played 15, as had there’s a genuine case to say that it may stances of his ban. Ahead of him is Aus- Australia, and it might seem like fi ve opening stands with this one neat trick. to the realm of the normal? . Mitchell Marsh had not end up doing much harm. Perhaps tralia, and conditions that Amir may be years in the wilderness hasn’t cost him Curving the ball at serious pace, some- Except it isn’t really like that. Take played 18. Then there’s Cummins. All of he is now better suited to play deep into well placed to use. much at all.

BOTTOMLINE England may look to Dawson to stop India

By Vic Marks ciation, KS Vishwanathan, as excellent. they have tried hard – but the outcome the same order – unless this is deemed much point in selecting Gareth Batty. The Guardian “There is a lot of work to be done but we has been three consecutive Tests de- the time for another shuffl e for Moeen In that dead rubber Ashes Test in are tackling it on a war footing,” he said. feats and the margins are expanding Ali, who has played more roles for Eng- which Borthwick played, England also The fl oodlights have been damaged, with every match. The distraction of land than Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts brought Gary Ballance into their side, he residents of Chennai have so has the roof on one of the stands, but that fl ight home looms ever larger how- and Coronets. It is just conceivable they but it is most unlikely they will stretch endured a terrible 10 days with that particular enclosure was not go- ever professionally they determine to go may want to experiment with Jos But- that far this time. They also played the death of the chief minis- ing to be used because safety clearances about their business. tler at No4 in this Test, which would Boyd Rankin, which defi nitely will not ter of , Jayalalithaa have not been granted. Understandably They have shuffl ed the batting or- mean Moeen returning to seven. happen in Chennai since he is not here Jayaram,T followed by Cyclone Vardah, the practice facilities were not ready for der, they have changed the balance of Having perused the strip at the and he is Irish again. At the end of that which has caused havoc in a city now use on Wednesday and that may also be their bowling attack and by their own ground there could be further experi- Sydney defeat there was much specula- striving hard to get back to normal. the case as far as the nets are concerned admission they have probably ended mentation. If the think tank reckon tion over whether would The arrival of the India and England on Thursday. Neither side can possi- up with the incorrect lineup in the last they spy a three-spinner surface they continue as captain. We are in similar Test teams in Chennai cannot possibly bly quibble about that. The game goes two Tests. Not that there is any convic- may emulate what happened in Sydney territory now. change much but the fact the Test is go- ahead. tion any alternative formula would have almost three years ago when, more out Does the history of England’s visits to ing ahead at Chepauk may be regarded It is one England’s management may made much diff erence. of curiosity than anything else, they Chennai give any cheer? From their fi rst as an indication that some sort of nor- privately view with some trepidation. Pride and a bit of self-preservation played Scott Borthwick – now of Sur- Test here in 1934 (captain – Douglas mal service is being resumed. This is Ravi Ashwin’s home ground are now the driving forces, though to be rey. Jardine) to their last one in 2008 (cap- At the ground preparations were and there is no doubting India’s mes- fair there has never be any sign of a lack The equivalent this time would be to tain – ) there has been anything but routine on Wednesday England allrounder Liam Dawson. merising off -spinner, who increasingly of commitment or eff ort throughout the give Liam Dawson a game, partly just to only one draw in eight matches – on the morning. There was the extraordinary reveals the temperament of the arche- last three games. They have simply been see what happens. Against Australia in most soporifi c of tours in 1981-82. Eng- sight of pans of hot coals being meticu- The pitch has been kept remarkably typal fast bowler, would like to send outplayed in contests where India could January 2014 Borthwick picked up four land have won three of those games, In- lously rolled along the pitch to enhance dry, given the ferocity of the storms; the England’s tourists packing with tails aff ord a few lapses whereas England cheap wickets amid the carnage of the dia, as you may have calculated, four. So the drying process. There is confi dence outfi eld has some wet patches but the fi rmly stationed between their legs. could not. fi fth Test but he has never been sighted expect a result, probably the one most everything will be ready for the match to drainage system is described by the sec- Moreover England are in a fragile Expect England to pick the same since. Perhaps playing at will capable of giving the hard-pressed lo- start on Friday. retary of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Asso- state. They have tried most things – and batsmen as in Mumbai, presumably in help him. There really does not seem cals something to smile about. Gulf Times Thursday, December 15, 2016 11 SPORT

OPPORTUNITY SA name uncapped De Bruyn for Lanka Tests AFP and Morne Morkel and batsman Rilee De Bruyn also off ers an option as a Johannesburg Rossouw, all because of injury, while part-time seam bowler. left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and On Monday, it was announced that two back-up players, all-rounder Du Plessis, who recently led the side ncapped batsman Theunis de and wicketkeeper to series victories at home to New Zea- Bruyn was yesterday named in Dane Vilas, were not picked. land and away in Australia, would take a 13-man South African squad AB de Villiers, who announced on over the Test captaincy on a permanent for the fi rst two Tests against Monday that he had stepped down as basis as De Villiers battled to regain SriU Lanka, starting later this month. Test captain in favour of Du Plessis, was full fi tness. , who was confi rmed also not considered as he has not fully “Credit to AB de Villiers for the as South Africa’s long-term captain on recovered from an elbow injury. smooth way the leadership transition Monday, will lead the team. The fi rst Parnell, who has not played in a Test has taken place. Faf has done an out- Test will be in Port Elizabeth, start- match since the 2013-14 season, missed standing job in the last two Test se- ing on December 26, and the second in the Australian tour because of injury. ries and our leadership is in very good Cape Town, starting on January 2, with Sri Lanka, whose players arrived in hands,” Zondi added. the fi nal Test to be played in Johannes- South Africa on Sunday, will play their Next Monday, Du Plessis will appeal burg from January 12. only warm-up game before the Tests his conviction for ball tampering dur- It will be the fi rst series between the when they play in a three-day match ing the series in Australia that resulted two countries played in South Africa against a South African Invitation XI in in him losing his entire match fee for since 2011-12. South Africa have won Potchefstroom from Sunday to Tuesday. the second Test in Hobart. The appeal eight of 10 previous home Tests against De Bruyn, a 24-year-old explosive represents an element of risk as he is Sri Lanka, with one defeat and one right-hander, has been included after fl irting with the higher sentence of a drawn match. Rossouw was ruled out with a foot in- one-match ban, which would rule him De Bruyn, 24, who has been picked jury. “De Bruyn is the latest player to out of the fi rst Test in Port Elizabeth, as a back-up batsman, and all-rounder be rewarded for consistently good form should he fail. Wayne Parnell are the only members of at franchise and South Africa A level,” Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle the squad who did not play in the series Cricket South Africa selection convener Abbott, , Temba Bavuma, in Australia which South Africa won 2-1 Linda Zondi said in a statement. “He has Stephen Cook, Theunis de Bruyn, Quin- last month. an outstanding fi rst-class career average ton de Kock, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Missing from the squad that went of 48.73 and has made 423 runs at 60.42 Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell, Vernon to Australia are fast bowlers Dale Steyn in this season’s four-day competition.” Philander, Kagiso Rabada

CHENNAI TEST NZ pacer Bracewell out for two months with knee injury ew Zealand pace bowler Doug Bracewell will be sidelined from Ninternational cricket for up to two Rampaging India look months after suff ering a serious knee in- jury during a domestic Twenty20 match. The 26-year-old tore his anterior cru- ciate ligament when fielding for Central Districts Stags against the Northern Knights over the weekend, local media reported yesterday. The injury rules Bracewell out of to increase Cook’s woes New Zealand’s home Test and limited- overs series against Bangladesh later this month and in January and possibly After completing an innings victory in the fourth Test in Mumbai, Virat Kohli’s men aim to become the three-match one-day series against Australia from January 30-February 5. the first Indian team to go unbeaten in 18 matches by avoiding defeat in the series finale in Chennai Bracewell, who was overlooked by selectors for the Pakistan Test series, last played for the Black Caps in a one-day international against India in October.

BADMINTON India’s Sindhu beats Japan’s Yamaguchi

IANS Dubai

ndian star shuttler PV Sindhu opened her BWF Superseries Finals campaign with a fi ghting win against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan yesterday. IIn the opening match of Group B, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallist Sindhu lost the fi rst game 12-21, but came back strongly to bag the next two games 21-8, 21-15. With this win, double World Champi- onship bronze medallist Sindhu has tak- en a 3-1 lead in the head-to-head against the 19-year-old two-time former junior world champion Yamaguchi. Today, world No.10 Sindhu will come across sixth-ranked Chinese Sun Yu, who produced a stunning result against reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin with a 21-18, 24-22 triumph in 58 minutes. In the match at the Hamdan Sports Complex, Sindhu looked a bit rusty and took time to get into rhythm. Yamaguchi ran away to a 7-3 lead quickly but Sindhu AFP tour of West Indies coming into view. halved the diff erence to 5-7. New Delhi Kohli is one of several Indian play- But Yamaguchi sparkled by notching India, England call off training amid cyclone chaos ers who have had outstanding series, six straight points that gave her a 13-5 he England and Indian train- ment said the match would go ahead damaged,” he said. “The assuring part including spinner Ravichandran Ash- lead. The gap was just too big and even rampant India will look to cre- ing sessions were cancelled as scheduled while confirming that the is that the pitch and the outfield has win who has taken 27 wickets. though Sindhu fought hard to make it 11- ate history in the fi fth and fi nal Tyesterday owing to unfit ground practice session had been called off . not been aff ected by the cyclone.” “The team is exceptional in terms 14 at a point of time, the Japanese man- Test against England, starting conditions at the MA Chidambaram The England team also said it had Viswanathan also said three stands of intensity and situational awareness. aged to win easily 21-12. tomorrow, by piling more mis- stadium in cyclone-battered Chennai called off yesterday’s practice session at the ground will be closed for the Everyone has contributed to the suc- In the second game, Yamaguchi con- Aery on Alastair Cook in what could be cess. This team is special,” said India tinued the good work but Sindhu reacted which hosts the fifth and final Test and would now have bowling and field- Test match due to a long-running his last outing as the tourists’ skipper. from tomorrow. ing drills on match eve today. Kashi dispute with the Chennai city council coach Anil Kumble. strongly after trailing 4-7. Playing an ag- After completing an innings victory Ten people were killed by Cyclone Viswanathan, the secretary of the Tamil which has refused to issue safety India are expected to be unchanged gressive game, she showed her repertoire in the fourth Test in Mumbai, Virat Vardah, the worst cyclonic storm to Nadu Cricket Association, said the certificates. India, the world number but England could bring in an extra of strokes to bag 16 points on the trot Kohli’s men will become the fi rst In- hit the tech hub in southern Tamil cyclone had damaged the sight screen one Test side, have already clinched spin bowler on a pitch that is expected that stood her at 20-7 before winning dian team to go unbeaten in 18 matches Nadu state in more than two decades. and other stadium property. “The sight the five-Test series 3-0 after an innings to turn, with Cook admitting it was the game 21-8. Her wide reach and sharp by avoiding defeat in the series fi nale Trees and power supply lines were screen has been badly damaged, the and 36-run victory in the fourth Test a mistake to only pick two specialist smashes fl oored the Japanese, as well as in Chennai. also uprooted when Vardah struck on bulbs of the floodlights blown off , a in Mumbai this week. The first Test at spinners in Mumbai. England will be enthralling the crowd. The majestic Kohli, who is in the Monday. The Indian team manage- number of air conditioners also got Rajkot had ended in a draw. hoping , who missed the A determined Sindhu continued her form of his life after striking his third last two Tests with a foot injury, will momentum in the third game and jumped double century of the year, is no mood be available with his stand-in Jake Ball to an 8-4 lead which became 11-7 at the to ease up on their beleaguered visitors. for selection as a batsman. should be ready to take on the task. unwelcome distraction. only taking one wicket in Mumbai. mid-game break. Afterwards, Sindhu After putting the outcome of the “If he still feels the same way he “You start having questions, of “I think everyone, to a man, in the upped her game, pressurising Yamaguchi series beyond doubt, Kohli said India did when he started, if every defeat course you do,” said Cook as he was dressing room would be disappointed if Teams (from) to make costly errors. And the younger would now “really express ourselves hurts him as much now as it did then, quizzed about whether he wanted to he wasn’t captain,” Bayliss was quoted India: Virat Kohli (capt), , rival succumbed under the pressure. fully” in Chennai and hope to make it I believe he should carry on,” Nasser soldier on after 58 Tests as captain. as saying by website cricinfo. Lokesh Rahul, , Sindhu raced to a 16-10 lead by bag- 4-0 against opponents who had been Hussain, one of Cook’s predecessors, “I think is ready to cap- “But when it’s constantly in the me- Ajinkya Rahane, , ging four consecutive points before something of a bogey team. wrote in the Daily Mail. tain England. He’s ready because he’s dia all the time, it’s a bit of a pain in the Parthiv Patel, , Jayant Yamaguchi earned two points. But Sind- England had won their last three se- “But if any part of him feels as if a clued-up guy, he’s got the respect backside.” Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra, hu again stole the show by making three ries against India, including their tour he’s taking the job for granted, then of everyone in the changing room. He While Cook considers whether to ab- Bhuvenshwar Kumar points in a row, standing at a 19-12 lead, in 2012 at the start of Cook’s record- he should have a serious think about hasn’t got much captaincy experience dicate, his counterpart — dubbed ‘King England: Alastair Cook (capt), Joe and completing the formality at 21-15. breaking tenure as captain. handing it over to Joe Root. It’s not a but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a Kohli’ by the Indian media — appears Root, , , Ben In Group A, former women’s world Four years on, Cook’s appetite for job you do lightly.” very good captain.” increasingly confi dent on the throne. Stokes, , , champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thai- the job is being increasingly called into After the Mumbai Test, Cook said England coach is He now has a chance of setting a new , , James land went down to South Korean Sung question and the skipper himself has he had still to decide on his future but among those hoping that Cook does Indian record for the most runs in a series Anderson, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Ga- ji Hyun 21-19, 21-12. World No.1 Tai Tzu spoken of the possibility of stepping he raised eyebrows by declaring that decide to remain captain, describing after scoring 640 in the fi rst four Tests, reth Batty, Stuart Broad, Liam Dawson, Ying of Chinese Taipei prevailed over down while continuing to be available Joe Root — his most likely successor — the speculation around his future as an with Sunil Gavaskar’s 774 on the 1971 Ben Duckett, Keaton Jennings China’s He Bingjiao 21-16, 21-13. Thursday, December 15, 2016 GULF TIMES CRICKET

FOCUS Misbah pins hopes on Arthur’s ‘inside knowledge’

AFP Dhabi,” he told reporters ahead of today’s Australia series no revenge going to be tough. I’ve learnt to smile Brisbane day-night Test at Brisbane’s Gabba. mission for Pak coach Arthur and just take it on the chin. It’s not “So we have a lot of faith and confi - about me against Australia. dence behind that. These players are ex- Mickey Arthur felt his reputation took “It’s about two very good young he Pakistan team, six years in perienced enough and they have the be- a big hit when he was sacked as head cricket teams going head-to-head, the making and armed with lief that they can do it. We’ve had some coach of Australia three years ago but that’s where the focus should be. insider knowledge from coach unbelievable successes in the past. the Pakistan mentor says he is not on “The focus is certainly not on any Mickey Arthur, are poised to “I think those victories and those a “revenge mission” as he prepares to revenge mission or anything like that. Tmake history in Australia, veteran skip- performances always give you confi - take on his former charges. I hold no anger, I made peace with it a per Misbah-ul-Haq said yesterday. dence, even in Australia. No doubt the Pakistan are bidding to become the long time ago.” Misbah, who exerts a calming infl u- conditions are tough but once you have fi rst South Asian side to win a series Arthur, who was replaced by ence on the mercurial Pakistanis, be- confi dence and belief I think you can Down Under and Arthur brings an in- Australia’s current mentor Darren lieves the side has developed into one change the history,” added Misbah. sider’s perspective of the Australian Lehmann, wasted little time in re- that can fi nally deliver a series win after Much of Pakistan’s confi dence fl ows set-up after his ill-fated 19-month cruiting Steve Rixon as Pakistan’s 11 fruitless tours to Australia. from the insights coach Arthur has on stint at the helm from 2011-13. fi elding coach. Rixon, who held a Pakistan have won only four of their the Australians after his time as their Arthur’s dismissal three weeks be- number of assistant roles with Aus- 32 Tests Down Under and have lost their national coach up to his sacking ahead fore the 2013 Ashes stung the South tralia from 2011, was axed from Leh- last nine Tests since their last victory in of the 2013 Ashes series in England. African’s pride and was the trigger for mann’s team in 2014 and also depart- Sydney in 1995. No team from the sub- “He knows the ins and outs of most makes Pakistan’s chances diffi cult to as- you are playing under lights and using an acrimonious severance claim against ed with bad blood, telling local radio continent has won a Test series in Aus- of the players, he knows their strengths sess. “It is not only the Gabba conditions the pink ball. That could be a little bit former his employers. that he had “very little respect” for tralia, further underlining the massive and weaknesses,” the captain said. but also the pink ball, day-night Test tricky, especially for the batsmen.” After a three-year exile from inter- Cricket Australia. undertaking. “That’s always helpful when you have match,” said Misbah, who at 42 is the Leg-spinner is looking to national coaching roles, Arthur took Arthur, who led South Africa to a se- But Misbah, who scored just 76 runs in that sort of inside information about oldest current Test player. “The players make an impact with the extra bounce from the Pakistan job in May and his return ries triumph in Australia in 2008-09, four innings in his only tour to Australia the opposition. We feel we have that are not that much familiar with the pink the Gabba pitch. “He’s a wonderful bowl- to Australia leading the tourists has said it was a “surreal feeling” coming in 2009-10, is confi dent the tourists can sort of advantage and he’s giving his ball and these conditions. That could be a er, he proved himself not only in the UAE added spice to the three-match series. back to the Gabba and operating out of turn things around against ’s input to the players how we need to go challenge, especially under lights. but also in England,” Misbah said. “Shane “The toughest part was around three the touring team’s dressing room. men, who are themselves emerging from about the business. That can really help “It’s always a challenge when you Warne was very successful in Australian years ago, getting my head around ex- “And coaching against guys I’m par- a recent losing fi ve-Test run. us in making our strategies.” come to play in Australia because these conditions because of the bounce he gets actly how all that happened because ticularly fond of,” he added. “But that’s “We took almost six years to develop No one has beaten Australia at their conditions are totally diff erent from the from these wickets. We believe he (Yasir) your reputation, your integrity takes a the world of international coaching. this team and that team showed a lot to Gabba fortress since the West Indies in rest of the world, a bit more bounce and is the kind of bowler who can make his im- massive knock,” Arthur said. It’s a pretty ruthless world and that’s the world when we played in England and 1988, but the unique challenge of the fi rst pace here. You need some time to get pact especially in Australia where bounce “But I worked my way through that what happens. You come up against old in ‘home’ conditions in Dubai and Abu pink-ball Test under lights at the ground used to these conditions, especially if can play a big role during the series.” and coming back I always knew it was charges all the time.”

BRISBANE TEST Smith says one pink-ball Ashes Test is enoughSmith says one pink-ball Ashes Test is enough Upbeat Aussies aim to AFP Brisbane

ustralia captain Steve Smith threw his support behind next Ayear’s day-night Ashes Test against England yesterday — but said one was enough for the series. bounce out Pakistan Both Smith and his England coun- terpart Alastair Cook had previously called for Tests, which have ‘I think traditionally sub-continent sides struggle to handle the pace and bounce in Australian con- no problem attracting fans, to keep ditions. So you need to try and find ways to exploit that as much as possible and at times I’m sure their traditional timing. The Aussie skipper had no reserva- we’re going to see some short-pitched bowling to mess with their feet to find ways to get them out’ tions after the announcement that Adelaide would host the first ever pink-ball Ashes Test, but he said one game under floodlights was enough. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and “I’m happy with just the one,” said his Australian counterpart Steven Smith, ahead of today’s series opener Smith hold the Test series trophy at the against Pakistan, which will be the Gabba in Brisbane yesterday, ahead of maiden day-night Test at Brisbane’s today’s pink ball day-night Test. (AFP) Gabba ground. “I think crowds, TV ratings and things like that are never an issue in the Ashes. “You can just look and see how the last two Adelaide Tests have gone, they’ve been great spectacles, just good games of cricket. I think it’s great that we’re going to play an Ashes pink-ball Test there next year. I’m happy for it to just stay with one.” Australia hosted the first day-night Test, using a pink ball for better vis- ibility under floodlights, in Adelaide last year in what turned out to be a groundbreaking success for the flag- ging, five-day format. Australia also played South Africa under lights in their recent Test series, and Pakistan faced the West Indies in a day-night Test in Dubai in October. England will get pink-ball experi- ence ahead of next year’s Ashes when they host their first day-night Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston in August. Meanwhile, Smith also said Austral- ia’s current player pay dispute was not on his mind heading into the Brisbane Test against Pakistan. Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Associa- tion had two days of talks this week over a new five-year agreement, but said discussions were “ongoing”. ACA wants to keep the current system, in which the players’ pay pool comes from a percentage of CA revenue and which has been in place since 1997. “I’m worrying about this Test match. With charging in bowling 150 km/h, the last thing I want to be thinking about is whether I’m getting paid too much or anything like that,” said Smith. “At the moment I’m leaving the ACA (players union) to handle that, speak- AFP as possible and at times I’m sure we’re swinging around.” slips cordon, the practice that we’ve Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell sug- ing with Cricket Australia. I know Brisbane going to see some short-pitched bowl- But Smith also warned Pakistan’s done and the way that the ball goes gested the match might not last the both of them want the right thing for ing to mess with their feet to fi nd ways leg-spinner Yasir Shah to make sure into his hands is beautiful. full fi ve days if the weather was humid. cricket going forward. I’m sure we’ll to get them out. New Zealand obvi- his length was on the mark or the Aus- “I’ve been really impressed with “It’s not beyond the realms of pos- come to an agreement.” kipper Steve Smith says Aus- ously did a good job, so hopefully our tralian batsmen would take to him. that and hopefully he can have a re- sibility,” he told reporters. tralia’s pace attack will test the bowlers can replicate that.” Yasir has captured 116 wickets in ally nice week at his home ground,” the “I think probably bat fi rst, given the resolve of Pakistan batsmen Smith was far more upbeat about just 20 Tests since his debut against Aussie skipper said. conditions,” Mitchell added. with short-pitched bowling in Australia’s chances after stopping the Australia in Dubai two years ago. Smith also expects fast bowler Lyon took four wickets to help a re- Brisbane’sS fi rst ever day-night Test, rot of fi ve straight Test defeats with a “I guess the extra bounce can play , recalled for the last jigged Australia side beat the Proteas starting today. revamped team in Adelaide late last in your favour as a spin bowler at the Test against South Africa, to hold in the day-night match in Adelaide, a Smith has yet to fi nalise his team month. Gabba, but it can also play against his place in the 11, meaning debutant return to form for the off -spinner af- and hasn’t ruled out playing with “It’s been a nice turnaround. We’ve you,” Smith said. paceman Chadd Sayers could edge out ter he struggled in defeats at Perth and four pacemen at the expense of spin- won four games on the trot (including “Your length has to be spot on, gen- spinner Lyon. Hobart as South Africa claimed a 2-1 ner , but he is promising three ODIs against New Zealand) as an erally there isn’t too much turn — it’s “We want to have another look at series win. the tourists a work-out on the bouncy Australian team now and hopefully we more bounce, so length is crucial. And the wicket today... to determine how Pakistan’s batsmen took Lyon apart Gabba pitch. can keep that winning momentum go- if you’re slightly off your length, you much grass is on the wicket and things in a 2-0 series loss for Australia in the With in-form quicks Mitchell Starc ing,” he said. can really cash in down the wicket and like that,” Smith said. United Arab Emirates two years ago and Josh Hazlewood armed with the Pakistan also have am- square of the wicket as well.” “Jackson will probably play, he but the spinner has an excellent record new ball, Smith said team strategists munition to return fi re at the Gabba, Smith added that rookie opener played the last game and played pretty in Brisbane and has not missed a Test had watched Pakistan’s recent series led by Mohamed Amir and Wahab Matt Renshaw, who made his Test de- well so I dare say he will play.” there since his debut in 2011. in New Zealand where the tourists Riaz. Smith pinpointed Amir as a po- but against South Africa in Adelaide The Gabba wicket, which tradition- “So I’ll leave you guys to write that, slumped to two hefty defeats. tential “handful”. this month, was adapting to his new ally off ers pace and bounce, had a layer that there’s going to be four quicks and “I think traditionally sub-conti- “He’s a quality bowler. He’s got environment. of grass on the eve of the venue’s fi rst stuff ,” Lyon said earlier in the week. nent sides struggle to handle the pace some great skills. He bowls with really “He’s coming out of his shell in the day-night Test. Cloudy conditions are “I’m confi dent of playing, I’ll put it and bounce in Australian conditions,” good pace and can swing the ball,” he last couple of days. I was impressed also forecast at the end of the week that way.” Smith said yesterday, ahead of the said. “It’s great to have those sort of with the way he played last week and which could make the pink ball swing Australia have not lost a Test at Australia captain Steve Smith (right) three-Test series. “So you need to try gears and those skills so no doubt he been impressed with the way that he as both sides hope to eke out an early the Gabba since 1988 when they were with head coach Darren Lehman. (AFP) and fi nd ways to exploit that as much could potentially be a handful if it’s trains. He’s got beautiful hands in the advantage in the three-Test series. beaten by Viv Richards’ West Indies.