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CCRICKETRICKET | Page 2 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Men in white: Only winners are Aussie coach remembered, inspired by Conte warns Will Smith Inter Milan Friday, August 21, 2020 TENNIS Muharram 2, 1442 AH Pursuit of Federer’s GULF TIMES record spurred Djoko to head to US Open SPORT Page 3 QNB STARS LEAGUE Big day for table-toppers ‘Our destiny is still in our hands and victory (over Al Ahli) will Duhail and Rayyan make us win the league’ By Sports Reporter mean the table toppers would be locked Doha at 49 points and a playoff will decide the league winner. “We are ready to face Al Wakrah l Duhail have their destiny and provide our best in order to win. in their own hands as a vic- The title is not in our hands. For me, tory over Al Ahli today at Al I do not prefer waiting for the result Janoub Stadium will win them of the other match. We have to focus Athe QNB Stars League title. on our game because it is difficult. Al Rayyan, a point behind Walid If we cannot win, we will not have a Regragui’s leaders, are also in action chance to win the title and we must against Al Wakrah at the same time do our job until the last moment,” with a 7:30pm kick-off at Jassim Bin Aguirre said. Hamad (Al Sadd) Stadium. “The preparations for Al Wakrah Al Duhail, who beat Al Khor 1-0 in game were very good. We do not have Week 21, have 15 victories, most by any any excuses, we have to continue win- team in the league this season, while ning and achieve victory in this game. their opponents, Al Ahli are eighth in We are required to focus, maybe some- the standings with 20 points. Duhail thing good will happen. We may or may had won the fi rst leg 3-0. not win the title.” With form and numbers on their Wakrah coach Marquez Lopez wants side, Regragui was confi dent going to close out the season on a high. into the title-decider in the pre-match “We prepared well for the Al Rayy- press conference. an match because we want to end the “We are ready to face Al Ahli, win the league championship in the best pos- match and fi nish the league. It is like a sible way, so that this would be the cup fi nal. A month ago, we knew that we Al Duhail coach Walid Regragui. Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre. perfect culmination of the great eff orts had fi ve decisive matches. We would have we put in during the season. If we fi nish liked to win the title early, but we were dence in ourselves and we have to win need them to prepare for the AFC Cham- matches of other teams. The competi- At the Al Sadd Stadium, Diego this season in fi fth or even sixth place, not successful. Now, we have a match to this match and clinch the title.” pions League and fortunately Al Duhail tion is now strong for the title and also Aguirre’s men will be looking to take all that would be a good result,” he said. win and we knew that Al Rayyan would Regragui said he intends to play the have many options,” said Regragui. to avoid relegation,” he said. three points when they go up against Al be chasing us, but we will win and cel- same squad that he had fi elded against Al Ahli coach Nebojsa Jovovic under- “Al Duhail match will not be easy, the Wakrah, and hope that Al Duhail slips TODAY’S MATCHES ebrate the title,” Regragui said. Al Khor, with Yousef Msakni, Assim stands the gravity of the task at hand, opponents are strong and have many stan- up at Al Janoub. If the events of the 4pm: Al Arabi vs Qatar SC, Al Janoub “We did not feel pressure in previous Madibo and Bassam al-Rawi still not especially after the loss to Wakrah in dout players. They are known for their night do pan out such, Rayyan would Stadium matches, especially because our des- available. the last round. team work. But we are able to provide our have won the league title for the fi rst 7:30pm: Al Duhail vs Al Ahli, Al Janoub tiny is still in our hands and victory will “The season was long and diffi cult. “All matches in the last round of the best and register a victory regardless of the time since the 2015-16 season. Stadium make us win the league. If there is pres- Now, the important thing for me is the league are diffi cult, we will focus only diff erence between us and the opponents. I However, a Rayyan draw with Wak- 7:30pm: Al Wakrah vs Al Rayyan, Jas- sure, it will be positive. We have confi - recovery of injured players because we on our team without thinking about the trust my team and players.” rah and Duhail’s loss to Ahli would sim Bin Hamad (Al Sadd) Stadium CRICKET Turkish blockbuster proves motivating force for Pakistan: captain Azhar AFP London, United Kingdom No holding back, Root tells his players Turkish TV blockbuster AFP However, Root says the players what he feared might happen at is being used as an un- London, United Kingdom should perform as if this is the the beginning of the season. likely motivator for the last Test till next summer and “We feel extremely lucky to have Pakistan team ahead of “leave no stone unturned”. got the opportunity to play right Atheir must-win third Test clash ngland captain Joe Root “My message to the guys today now,” said the 29-year-old. against England, captain Azhar said yesterday he wants was quite simple really,” he said “At the start of the summer, we Ali said yesterday. Ehis players to give it their at his eve of match press confer- were dreading the thought of The 35-year-old added they all in the third Test with Pakistan ence. not seeing any international were in a good state of mind de- which gets underway this week “We don’t know when the next cricket.” spite the crushing disappointment as it could be their last for a time is that we’ll play Test Root paid tribute to both the of losing the fi rst Test when they while. cricket. West Indies and Pakistan for were in a strong position to win it. England lead 1-0 and have to “Let’s make sure we leave no agreeing to tour and having to The second Test was a virtual avoid defeat at the Ageas Bowl stones unturned and we give live in a bubble to reduce the washout — at the same Ageas today to seal what would be everything to each other and the risk of them getting the virus. Bowl venue where the third Test their first series win over Paki- badge going into this last game. “Credit to both touring teams for gets underway today — due to stan in 10 years. “I fully expect everyone to give coming over and giving us that bad light and rain. It would make it a perfect sum- everything over the next five opportunity to play, and to both TV series Ertugrul, which has mer having beaten the West days and make sure we give boards,” said Root. run for fi ve seasons (2014-19) and Indies 2-1 earlier in the season. ourselves the best chance of “It’s been amazing to be a part is a big hit in Pakistan, has proved England ‘s next scheduled Test finishing the series 2-0.” of this experience. Hopefully we a winner for raising morale, said series is in India in the new year Root, who missed their only Test can have a great finish to it. Azhar. but the coronavirus pandemic defeat of the summer in the first “There’s been some really excit- The series, a mix of historical may make that impossible — clash with the West Indies due ing games and I think it’s made fi ction and adventure, is based playing it in the United Arab to becoming a father, said even for some entertaining viewing around the life of Ertugrul, the Emirates could be a possibility. playing without spectators beat at times.” father of Osman I, who was the founder of the Ottoman Empire. Available to stream in England, it’s been a crucial diversion for a squad confi ned to bio-secure Pakistan’s Azhar Ali (left) and teammate Shaheen Afridi take part in a training session on the eve of their sites for the duration of their stay. third Test against England at Ageas Bowl in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Reuters) “Yes I think there is no player who is not watching Ertugrul,” “I’m lucky to have such a nice about myself in the two hours or but you can’t buy experience Azhar said in his eve of match press bunch of guys who are putting so I spent at the crease in my pre- without playing. We have to back conference conducted in Urdu. everything in for Pakistan,” said vious innings (20) and my bal- them,” he said. “It’s tough to lift the side after Azhar. “They have gelled really ance was good as well,” he said. “We are lucky enough to have losing a winning match but we nicely, which makes the job very “It is my responsibility to make these exciting fast bowlers, al- have done well to lift ourselves easy for me, so I focus on all the sure that I score runs.” though they are young.

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