15 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 sports

Rossi says in no hurry to Naseem hat-trick extends retire from MotoGP AFP | Sepang, Malaysia

talian Moto GP legend IValentino Rossi said Sunday Pakistan’s dominance he was in no hurry to retire amid speculation the veteran might quit the sport after sev- Naseem Shah becomes the youngest player to record a hat-trick as face defeat eral lean years. The seven-time Moto GP AFP | Rawalpindi, Pakistan champion was previously ex- pected to decide his future Monster Energy Yamaha’s Italian eenage paceman Naseem mid-year, after being replaced rider Valentino Rossi steers through Shah became the young- at Yamaha by Frenchman Fabio a corner Test player to record a Test Quartararo for the 2021 season. the 5.5km-long track on the hat-trick as Pakistan closed in But after setting the fifth Sepang test circuit. on victory against Bangladesh 16 fastest lap time Sunday from a He also told reporters that in Rawalpindi on Sunday. and 359 days is the age pool of 26 riders at the pre-sea- he wanted to see how the first Just when Bangladesh seemed of Naseem Shah son test in Malaysia, Rossi ap- half of the MotoGP season went to have fought their way back peared to be in good spirits this year. into the match at 124-2, minutes about the subject. “The most important thing before the close on the third day, “The situation now looks like are the results,” he said. Naseem destroyed them with I have a bit more time... I’m not “I want to try to continue, three off successive de- Earlier, Pakistan lost seven in a hurry,” he told reporters but I will (only) continue if I liveries. wickets either side of lunch with when asked if he would make am competitive.” Aged 16 years and 359 days, Sohail holding the innings to- a decision in July or August. The MotoGP will see another he becomes the youngest play- gether. Rossi, who turns 41 later test session in Qatar starting er to record a Test hat-trick, He struck seven fours and this month, clocked his fastest on Feb 22, with the season to besting Bangladeshi Alok Kapali two sixes for his third Test lap time at 1min 58.541sec on begin on March 8. who achieved the feat aged 19 Naseem Shah celebrates after taking a hat-trick half- before holing out in 2003. tour last year, is also the young- Naseem. off spinner Taijul Islam to deep Naseem trapped Najmul Hos- est fast bowler and second bowl- “There is no doubt he is a spe- mid-. sain Shanto leg before off the er overall to take five wickets in cial talent,” said Azam at the Last man Naseem was run out fourth ball of his seventh over a Test innings. close of play. “It’s an outstand- to end Pakistan’s first innings. Monfils wins in Montpellier again for 38, then followed up with He achieved that feat at 16 ing achievement at this very A 10,000-strong holiday AFP | Montpellier, France dismissals of Taijul Islam (lbw) years and 307 days against Sri young age and the best thing crowd had come in anticipa - and (caught) Lanka in Karachi last year. about him is that he bowls to the tion of Azam scoring a double renchman Gael Monfils with the next two deliveries. plan given to him.” hundred. But resuming at 342- Fwon the Montpellier ATP Naseem had figures of 4-26 ‘Special talent’ Pakistan were bowled out for 3, he was out to the first ball of tournament on Sunday with before he left the field with a “I wanted to do something 445 in their first innings. the day, edging to Mohammad a 7-5, 6-3 straight sets victory shoulder injury. that people remember about Saif, playing his first Test, Mithun at first slip. over Canada’s Vasek Pospisil. Shanto and , me and this is a special achieve- was on a pair after his sec - Azam’s 143 was his fifth Test It was a first tournament unbeaten on 37 at the close, had ment for which I thank (the) ond-ball duck in the first in - hundred and a masterclass of at- win for a year for the popular added 71 for the third wicket Almighty,” Naseem said after nings but he started confidently tractive batting, which included 33-year-old world No.9 who after they lost Saif Hassan on 16 the match. to reach 16 with four bounda- a six and 18 fours. was top seed at Montpellier. and on 34. “I can’t describe my feelings ries before he was bowled by Asad Shafiq, who put on Pospisil fell during the match At the close, Bangladesh were and the way (the) crowd (was) Naseem. 137 for the fourth wicket with and appeared to be carrying an 126-6 and needing another 86 backing me up can’t be de - Iqbal, fresh from scoring Azam, added just five to his injury to his right leg. runs to avoid an innings defeat scribed in words.” the highest first-class score on overnight score before he was This was a ninth career tour- with two days to play. Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who Bangladeshi soil of 334 caught behind off fast bowler nament win for Monfils and his Naseem, who burst onto the scored 143 in the first innings last week, was trapped leg-be- for a 65 that third at Montpellier which he scene on Pakistan’s Australia of the Rawalpindi Test, praised fore by Yasir. included nine boundaries. also won in 2010 and 2014. Gael Monfils in action in Montpellier Noor Sports lift U-12 Academy title TDT | Manama

oor Sports Bahrain defeated Star NCricket Academy (Blue) by 4 wickets in the final to lift the Acade- my under 12 Cricket Title on Friday at Alba Ground. Batted first Star Cricket Acade - Players of Mudabbar CC and Karnataka Royals after the finals of CBA 25 overs cup for Division my (Blue) was bowled out for just C league. Mudabbar CC lifted the cup after defeating Royals by 3 wickets. Nadeem Gujjar from 49runs. Mohit Yogesh Kumar made Mudabbar CC was awarded the Man of the Match the things easy for Noor Sports with superb performance, who took 5 wickets for just 8 runs. Chas- Under 12 Champions with their trophies FCTG winter singles tournament concludes ing the target of 50 runs in 20 overs, scoring was not that easy for Noor Hassan Noor, Alba Club Board tion and High Performance bowling TDT | Manama Sports as they had to struggle in front Member and the Director of Carbon, Master class Coach T.A.Sekar were of Madhav Anil Kumar who B.K.Suresh, Senior Head of Procure- the guest of honours in the final. They CTG concluded their took 5 wickets for just 6 runs. Hre- ment and Former Indian Player, In- have congratulated the winners and FWinter Singles Ten- haan Ahmed (15) and Ayaan Kumar dian team Selector, Former Chief also gave away the prizes. nis Tournament on Fri- (10*) batted sensibly for Noor Sports Bowling Coach of MRF Pace Founda- day at Bahrain Tennis and reached the target in the12th Federation courts in Isa over itself. The following awards were also distributed at the award ceremony. Town. In the Loser’s Final Alba Red beat In the Men’s Division Alba Blue by 8 wickets to win the Sec- Sl no Awards Player’s Name Team Finals, Norman Abastil- ond Runner up position. Batted first 1 Best Batsman Sai Sarthak Alba Red las claimed the Flight 2 Alba Blue has scored a reasonable to- 2 Best Bowler Mohit Yogesh Kumar Noor Sports Winners with FCTG Chairman Gerry Toledo (Left) and FCTG Vice title over Ghaith Arnaout. tal of 101 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. 3 Best Fielder Ayaan Kumar Noor Sports Chairman Eric Alabastro (Right) Ghait Arnaout, however, Captain Vidhaath Bhaskar top scored 4 Best Wicket Keeper Tanush Deepak Patil Noor Sports overpowered Pradeep feated Abhinav Girish to Grace Dela Cruz to take with 30 and Opener Aryan Pankaj 5 Promising Player Hrehaan Ahmed Noor Sports Bhandary on Flight 3 cat- claim the flight 6 title. the flight 5 title. Jocelyn scored a polished 27 runs. Akshar 6 Most youngest Player Pranav Vishnu Star Cricket (Red) egory. Khalil Arnaout won over Pre won over Joan Culpa Lenin (13 for 2) and Tarun Prabhu (6 7 The only Hat trick Sarvesh Gheewala Alba Red Ruzbeh Engineer won Abdulrahman Rajab in in flight 6 category. for 2) were the pick of the bowlers. 8 The Emerging Player Aryan Pankaj Alba Blue over Faro Tandoc on veteran’s category. Abhinav Girish defeat- In replay, Alba Red chased the total 9 Man of the match in the Final Mohit Yogesh Kumar Noor Sports men’s flight 4 while Jose In ladies Division Fi- ed Rikhill Bhojwani in very comfortably by losing only 2 10 Man of the match in the Loser’s Final Shaurya Nair Alba Red Adap eased passed Lloyd nals, Thess Corral won Under 14 category while wickets. Shaurya Nair top scored with 11 5 wicket Haul Mohit Yogesh Kumar Noor Sports bermas on flight 5 cate- the flight 4 title over Mi- the latter bagged the un- an unbeaten 36 and Opener Jugal 12 ,, Madhav Anil Kumar Star Cricket (Blue) gory. chelle Pedro, with Maria der 12 category defeating Jigar scored a well matured innings 13 Player of the Tournament Sai Sarthak Alba Red Alvin Alcantara de - Cyra Oblea overpowering Clark Sayago. with 28 runs.