New QNB Stars League Season Kicks Off Today Education City Stadium to Host Its First Official Match

Serena sets record with 102nd victory at US Open page 14

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 New QNB Stars League season kicks off today Education City Stadium to host its first official match

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadium will welcome QNB Stars League (QSL) sides Al Sadd and Al Kharaitiyat SC for the 2020-21 season opener on Thursday at 18:15pm. ‘Diamond in the Desert’ will come aglow with first QNB Stars League action

SC.qa able temperatures year-round tionally challenging circum- Doha for players and fans. stances, and set the standard Commenting on the sig- for the innovative nature of Following a digital launch nificance of the return to Qatar 2022. announcing the completion football in light of the global Hosting QSL matches, of Education City Stadium in pandemic, HE Hassan Al Tha- amongst numerous others this June this year, specially pro- wadi, Secretary General of the season at the venue, is a vital grammed as a tribute to front- Supreme Committee for De- opportunity for us to test and line healthcare workers during livery & Legacy added, “Seeing refine the stadium’s opera- the COVID-19 pandemic, the the gradual, safe return of fans tional readiness and ensure it venue will now host its first of- to stadiums around the world helps deliver on our prom- ficial match. is a true testament to our re- ises to players and fans in the The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ stadium will welcome QNB Stars League (QSL) sides Al Sadd SC and Al Kharaitiyat SC for the 2020/2021 sea- son opener on Thursday at 18:15PM Doha time. Al Sadd’s stars Rodrigo Tabata (running) and Akram Afif during one of the team’s training sessions ahead of QNB Stars League new season. Dubbed the ‘Diamond in the Desert’, Education City Stadium has a capacity of 40,000 and is set to host Xavi aiming for a good start matches up to and including the quarter-finals stage during the FIFA World Cup 2022™. The stadium is located in the against Al Kharaitiyat heart of Qatar Foundation for The Education City Stadium at night. Education, Science and Com- munity Development, and silience as societies, and to the build-up to and during the Tribune News Network surrounded by leading univer- great work that was carried tournament in 2022.” Doha sities, educational institutions out by frontline healthcare When asked about the im- and recreational facilities. workers in Qatar and beyond. portance of hosting the open- Less than two weeks after Al Once the FIFA World We are really excited to mark ing match of this season, QSL Duhail claimed the QNB Stars Cup™ is over, the stadium’s ca- the return to football in Qatar CEO Hani Taleb Ballan said, League title for the 2019/20 pacity will be reduced by half, at our newest stadium, and “It’s a privilege for the QSL season, the league returns with 20,000 seats used as part give fans and players a taste to have its season opener be again as the 2020/21 season of legacy programmes that will of what to look forward to in the first match to be played at kicks off on Thursday. support the creation of sports 2022 and beyond.” Education City Stadium, par- Due to COVID-19 health facilities in developing coun- Nasser Al Khater, CEO ticularly as we are safely and protocols, three stadiums will tries around the world. of the FIFA World Cup Qa- gradually welcoming fans back be used for the start of the Education City Stadium tar 2022, added “The digital into stadiums across Qatar.” season; the 2022 World Cup was the first tournament ven- launch of Education City Sta- With the launch of the Stadium Education City, Al Al Kharaitiyat coach Yousef Adam. ue to achieve a five-star design dium in June, marking the 2020/2021 QNB Stars League Gharafa, and Al Ahli Stadiums. and build rating from the Glob- readiness of the third FIFA season, fans will be allowed to On the opening weekend, al Sustainability Assessment World Cup venue after Al attend matches in accordance record champions Al Sadd Today’s Matches System (GSAS), and as with all Janoub and Khalifa Interna- with the safety regulations will face newly promoted Al Kharaitiyat vs Al FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ tional Stadiums, was a major outlined in Phase 4 of the con- Al Kharaitiyat at the Educa- stadiums, advanced cooling tournament milestone which trolled phased lifting of COV- tion City Stadium. Sadd (6.15pm at technologies ensure comfort- was delivered under excep- ID-19 restrictions in Qatar. The Wolves would be Education City Stadium) seeking to reclaim the Falcon Shield after a lacklustre sea- Al Sailiya vs Al Rayyan son, which saw them lose five (6.15pm at Thani Bin matches in Xavi Hernandez’s Messi meeting stalemate as father first year as coach. However, Jassim Stadium - a summer of reimbursements Gharafa Club) casts further doubt on son’s future with Santi Cazorla and Guil- herme Torres should boost the Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC DPA Wolves’ midfield, especially (8.30pm at Thani Bin Barcelona after injuries to Salem al Hajri Jassim Stadium - and Hassan al Haydos last Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, season left the squad stretched Gharafa Club) has cast further doubt on the thin in creativity. Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez during one of his team’s training likelihood his son will play for Xavi will also expect Bagh- sessions recently. Barcelona again. dad Bounedjah to overcome horns at the Al Gharafa Stadi- “I think it will be difficult, his difficulties in front of goal They are a good team, they re- against their much-fancied um. Al Rayyan’s target will be difficult,” Jorge Messi told in the QSL and the AFC Cham- ally work well and have a good opponents but is optimistic of winning the league at all cost Spanish television Deportes 4 pions League. coach – Yousuf Adam; I re- their chances. after coming close last season when asked about the chances Ahead of the season open- spect him a lot. When we faced “This match will not be only to lose out on the last day. of him staying at the club. er, though, Xavi hailed the his teams, it was tough,” the easy because Al Sadd is a big Coach Diego Aguirre said The response was given Jorge Messi, father and agent of Lionel Messi arrives at his apartment recent arrivals but quickly Spaniard said. team having distinguished his side can repeat last sea- as Messi senior headed for a in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday. (AFP) stressed that Al Kharaitiyat On the recent signings, he players and we respect them son’s form and even better. Wednesday evening meeting will pose a difficult challenge. said, “I am pleased because I just as we respect all teams we “I am confidentthat Al with Barcelona president Jo- But after a one-and-a-half-hour been served in June and that “We want to start well, but know Cazorla and Guilherme, play against. We have stud- Rayyan are able to repeat sep Bartomeu, which media in meeting it appeared that the he is back under contract with as I insisted since last season, and for sure, they have to be ied them well; they have their what we did last season. It is Spain reported failed to break player is unlikely to begin pre- a release clause. Messi has been the QSL has improved a lot, the team leaders, and they will strengths and weaknesses like very important for us to start stand-off between the two sides. season training with new Bar- linked with a move to Premier so every game will be tough help us a lot. We are talking any other team. strongly and win the first Messi has boycotted the first celona coach Ronald Koeman. League Manchester City, but to win. We are ready to com- about players from another “Our ambition in the new match. If you remember, we two training sessions of pre-sea- Diario Sport reported that the club is unwilling to make a pete, and we want to start well. level. We are talking about season is to get stabilised first drew our first three matches son after sending a burofax (re- Bartomeu attended the meet- move until the transfer situa- In front of Al Kharaitiyat, we top players who played in Eu- and gradually develop in the last season and wasted early corded mail) to Barcelona last ing with director Javier Bor- tion has been clarified. have a new team in the com- rope, in Spain, in the Premier following seasons. We seek points. We do not want that week communicating his desire das. Jorge Messi was accom- Asked by reporters if it was petition, but we faced them in League, in Greece, so I’m sure to satisfy everyone in terms this time around and I trust to leave on a free transfer. panied by son Rodrigo and true Guardiola had advised the quarterfinals of the Amir they will help the team.” of level and positive results,” my players,” said Aguirre. It had been hoped after lawyer Jorge Pecourt. Messi Sr that his son should stay Cup last season, and it was Al Kharaitiyat coach Adam said. Al Gharafa and Qatar SC Jorge Messi flew into Barce- Barcelona continue to in- at Barcelona, Jorge Messi re- challenging because they have Yousef Adam knows his Also on Thursday, Al complete Thursday’s fixtures lona on Wednesday morning sist that any notice that Messi plied: “I have not spoken to Pep. outstanding foreigner players. side face a challenging task Rayyan and Al Sailiya will lock at the Al Gharafa Stadium. there would be some progress. wanted to leave should have I have not spoken to anyone.” 14 Thursday, September 3, 2020 Sports Serena shrugs off record-chase as Murray makes stunning comeback

AFP/DPA New York

Serena Williams insisted she isn’t focusing on records as she took a step towards a 24th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win in the US Open first round Tuesday. The 38-year-old overcame the loss of her first service game in the opening set to power past Kristie Ahn 7-5, 6-3 at the Arthur Ashe Sta- dium in what was her record 102nd victory at the US Open. Williams is pursuing a seventh US Open title at the Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns the ball during her match US National Tennis Center against Kateryna Kozlova of the of Ukraine on Wednesday. (Getty/AFP) that would take her level with Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles. But she in- Kvitova and Kerber sisted afterwards that neither record is really on her mind. “Yeah, in a weird way I feel advance to 3rd round like every time I come here I’m being told I broke another AFP Kvitova was one of several record. I felt like I had some- New York seeds to advance safely in early thing last year. Maybe it was games on Wednesday as the a tie for Chris Evert,” she said Petra Kvitova advanced to draw once again went largely nonchalantly. the third round of the US Open to form. “But it’s cool. I don’t think on Wednesday, defeating Kat- Croatia’s Petra Martic, I appreciate it enough, which eryna Kozlova of Ukraine 7-6 seeded eight, defeated lowly is unfortunate. But I’m in the (7/3), 6-2. ranked Kateryna Bondarenko middle of a Grand Slam, so it’s Czech sixth seed Kvitova, of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4. Martic will not the time to be focused for chasing a third Grand Slam face Russia’s Varvara Gracheva me on records when I’m think- crown after wins at Wimble- in the third round. ing about winning a tourna- Serena Williams of the United States returns the ball during her Andy Murray of Great Britain reacts during his men’s singles match don in 2011 and 2014, needed Gracheva, ranked 102nd in ment,” Williams added. women’s singles first round match against American Kristie Ahn on against Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan on Tuesday. (Getty Images/AFP) 1hr 40min to claim her place the world, scored a rare upset Williams said the easiest Day Two of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National in the last 32. eliminating France’s 30th- aspect about the absence of Tennis Center in New York on Tuesday. (Getty Images/AFP) since 2012 and just her third spoke to her via the digital fan The 30-year-old, who has seeded Kristina Mladenovic fans inside the 23,000-seater match since she came out wall placed courtside. never been past the quarter- 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0. Arthur Ashe Stadium was that and defeated Japan’s Yoshi- the match I was apprehensive of retirement – for a second Second seed Dominic Thi- finals at the US Open, will face Another seed to tumble there is “a little less pressure.” hito Nishioka. about playing a long match time – last February. em advanced to the second either Belgium’s Kirsten Flip- early Wednesday was the Czech And she added that she had no The former world number because I haven’t played one “It’s a process. That’s what round when his Spanish op- kens or Jessica Pegula in the Republic’s Marketa Vondrou- problem getting fired up, de- one was playing his first sin- for a while and I felt like I was I told myself at the start when I ponent Jaume Munar retired third round on Friday. sova. The out-of-sorts 12th seed spite the lack of atmosphere. gles match at a major since the kind of pacing myself,” said took this challenge on, was that from their match while trail- Kvitova admitted she is was beaten 6-1, 6-2 in little “I think the hardest is mak- 2019 Australian Open and his Murray, who plays Canadian it’s going to take a lot of hard ing 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. His round still adjusting to the eerily more than an hour by Belarus’ ing sure you stay pumped. For first since undergoing hip re- No.15 seed Felix Auger Alias- work and losses. That’s part of two opponent is India’s Su- quiet conditions at this year’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich. me it was clearly easy because surfacing surgery. sime in round two. it,” said the 37-year-old Clijsters. mit Nagal. US Open. Germany’s Angelique Ker- I’m always overly passionate. Murray was down a break In a high-quality late Venus Williams suffered her Australian Open champi- “Everything is totally differ- ber, the 2016 US Open cham- I love being passionate. It’s in the third set, saved a match match, Kim Clijsters won her first-ever opening round defeat on Sofia Kenin eased into the ent,” Kvitova said. “Sometimes pion, booked her place in the what I’m best at,” she added. point late in the fourth, and first set in eight years but it at the US Open, in a record 22 second round with a 6-2, 6-2 you play unbelievable shot and third round with a straight sets trailed by a break in the fifth wasn’t enough to commemo- appearances, crashing out to success over Belgium’s Yanina there is just three clapping. win over compatriot Anna-Le- Murray pulls off before battling his way to a rate her return to the US Open Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5. Wickmayer. “I have to still push myself na Friedsam. stunning comeback 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4), with a win, as she fell to Ekat- The Czech No.20 seed Victoria Azarenka scored a to be more mentally focused. The 17th seed progressed Britain’s Andy Murray en- 6-4 victory at Arthur Ashe erina Alexandrova. won the last four games of the smooth 6-1, 6-2 win over Bar- It’s a little bit like a practice with a 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) victory in joyed a winning return to stadium after nearly five The Belgian three-time match and celebrated with her bara Haas. She will play Aryna without the fans ... I really have 1hr 40min, and will now face Grand Slam tennis as he ral- hours of play. champion was contesting friend, Australian actress and Sabalenka in an all-Belarusian to be still reminding myself to either 13th seed Alison Riske lied back from two sets down “I think at the beginning of her first Grand Slam clash comedian Rebel Wilson, who second round on Thursday. be there for every point.” or Ann Li. Nuggets rally from 3-1 deficit to beat Jazz in seven games AFP and came back. I’d go to war Los Angeles with any one of these guys in the locker room, any one of Nikola Jokic had 30 points these coaches. We could’ve easy as the Denver Nuggets reached chalked it up in the first half. the Eastern Conference semi- We have grit and fight. That’s finals with a thrilling 80-78 all you can really ask for.” game seven victory over the Mitchell also had a chance Utah Jazz on Tuesday. to tie it on Utah’s previous The 25-year-old Serbian possession but he lost the ball star, who also had 14 rebounds on a drive to the basket. Den- and four assists, had been tak- ver immediately went down to ing a back seat to Canadian the other end but they missed Spain’s defender Sergio Ramos (centre) attends a training session on in Stuttgart, Germany, on the eve scoring phenom Jamal Murray an easy layup on their final of the UEFA Nations League match against Germany on Wednesday. (AFP) in the series, but Jokic busted possession of the game that out in the winner-takes-all would have sealed it. Germany coach showdown in Orlando, Florida. Mitchell led the Jazz with Messi has earned right to Loew has eyes on “We didn’t quit. We just 22 points and nine rebounds. the bigger prizes didn’t want to quit. I am glad we won the game,” said Jokic. Celtics stretch lead leave Barca, says Ramos Stuttgart: Germany’s nation- Murray scored 17 points In the Eastern Conference, al football coach Joachim Loew and Michael Porter finished Jayson Tatum scored a career AFP 16 seasons. was full of fighting talk ahead with 10 points and nine re- playoff high 34 points and Stuttgart (Germany) The 34-year-old said that of the Nations League game bounds for the Nuggets, who Marcus Smart drained five the departure of one of the against Spain – after a 289-day advanced in a series for the three-pointers in the fourth Sergio Ramos said on greatest ever players would be break for the team – although first time in franchise his- quarter as the Boston Celtics Wednesday that Lionel Messi a big blow for Spanish football. he conceded there are more im- tory after being 3-1 down, be- rallied to beat Toronto 102-99 should be allowed to decide on “Leo makes the Spanish portant worries right now, such coming just the 12th team in in game two of their series. his future as the Argentine su- League and his team better, he as the pandemic. Nonetheless, league history to achieve such Kemba Walker finished perstar attempts to force his makes the Clasicos more beauti- the players are ready, focused a comeback. with 17 points and Jaylen way out of Barcelona after two ful because you like to win while and highly motivated, Loew said “A lot of teams would have Brown had 16 points and eight decades at the club. being against the best and he is at a press conference together just given in, especially when rebounds for the Celtics, who “He has earned the right to one of the best in the world. with Germany midfielder and you consider we’ve been here grabbed a 2-0 lead in the best- decide his future. I don’t know “He has earned the right to interim captain Toni Kroos 57 days away from our fami- of-seven Eastern Conference if he is doing it in the best way,” decide for himself.” on Wednesday, a day before lies,” Nuggets coach Michael semi-final. Ramos said ahead of Spain’s Messi, who has been at Bar- Germany plays against Spain. Malone said. Game three is Thursday. Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Rudy Gobert #27 of the opening UEFA Nations League ca since he was 13, is in a stand- Loew, however, is eyeing the The Nuggets will face the “Marcus Smart has been a Utah Jazz fight for possession during the third quarter in Game Seven clash with Germany in Stuttgart. off with the Catalan giants which postponed European cham- Los Angeles Clippers in the winner since he’s gotten here,” of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs “For Spanish football, for is threatening to descend into an pionship, due to take place Eastern Conference semi-fi- said Celtics coach Brad Ste- at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Barca and for us who like to expensive and bitter legal battle next summer. Kroos agreed, nals. The first game is Thurs- vens of Smart, who finished Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Tuesday. (Getty Images/AFP) beat the best, we would like as the club insist a 700 million- saying, “The main goal is the day in the NBA’s quarantine with 19 points and six threes. him to stay.” euro ($833 million) release European Cup afterwards, so bubble in Florida. “We’ve been in the playoffs sists and Pascal Siakam tallied Losing has been an unfa- Ramos has been one of Mes- clause needs to be activated be- every single game is impor- Tuesday’s game finished every year since he’s been here 17 points for the Raptors, who miliar feeling for the Raptors si’s fiercest rivalsas Barca have fore he be allowed to leave. tant.” Of Thursday’s match in with a wild sequence that in- and that’s not a coincidence.” had chances to pull even but in the NBA bubble. Toronto battled it out for domestic and He and his lawyers argue Stuttgart, however, Kroos said, cluded Utah’s Mike Conley The teams were tied 28-28 made some uncharacteristic had only lost one game during European dominance with the he is allowed to go for free this “We want to win every game throwing up a desperation at the end of the first quarter mistakes down the stretch. the seeding round, a 122-100 Spain captain’s club side Real summer according to another we play. It’s obviously a little shot at the buzzer that ringed but the defending NBA cham- Kyle Lowry made a pair setback to the Celtics. Madrid. The pair are roughly clause in his contract, which bit more special for me to play the basket but failed to drop. pion Raptors led 78-70 head- of free throws with 61 sec- Toronto had an eight- the same age and have both won they claim was triggered on against Spain.” Loew had warm “It looked good, man. ing into the fourth. onds remaining to cut the game winning streak head- a host of major honours as their August 25 when a fax stat- words for Kroos, calling him “an Sometimes, it’s just the way O.G. Anunoby scored 20 Celtics lead to just one, 100- ing into the start of this se- teams shared the La Liga title al- ing Messi’s intention to leave incredibly intelligent player and it works,” Jazz star Donovan points, Fred VanVleet finished 99, but that was as close as ries but have now lost both most uninterrupted over the last arrived at Camp Nou. his vision is brilliant.” (DPA) Mitchell said. “We fought hard with 19 points and seven as- Toronto would get. games to Boston. Sports Thursday, September 3, 2020 15

What ‘Your Gateway’ Doha 2030 Asian Games bid logo symbolises

Britain’s Yates takes Tour de France yellow jersey

AFP I knew I was in with a chance Privas (France) once we were in the final kilo- metre,” said the 25-year-old. Britain’s Adam Yates re- “Our leader showed his luctantly took the Tour de strong legs and today it was France’s yellow jersey on my turn. Wednesday as overnight Ineos leader Egan Bernal leader Julian Alaphilippe was said earlier on Wednesday at penalised for taking on provi- the Alpine departure town of sions in the final 20km. Gap he was unconcerned by Mitchelton-Scott’s Yates Jumbo’s form. “We are con- takes advantage of Alaphilippe’s centrating on arriving in the 20-second sanction for receiv- third week good and fresh for ing a water bottle at the 17km the finale,” said the 23-year- Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred gelding Shadad in action at San Sebas- mark as Belgium’s Wout Van old defending champion. tian in Spain on Wednesday. (Photo: Hipodromo de San Sebastian) Aert won the fifth stage. Stage 5 Results Taking on supplies from 1. Wout van Aert (BEL/JUM) team cars is not allowed in the 4hrs 21mins 22sec, 2. Cees Bol Al Shaqab Racing’s Shadad final 20km for safety reasons, (NED/SUN) same time, 3. Sam but riders can drink or eat Bennett (IRL/DEC) s.t., 4. Peter adds a new Stakes race what they already have. Sagan (SVK/BOR) s.t., 5. Jasper “Nobody wants to take the Stuyven (BEL/TRE) s.t., 6. Luka to his record in Spain jersey like this. I was on the Mezgec (SLO/MIT) s.t., 7. Bryan bus and we were about to leave Coquard (FRA/VCC) s.t., 8. Caleb QREC Al Shaqab Racing & Nada for the hotel when I got a call,” Ewan (AUS/LOT) s.t., 9. Clément Doha Moussali-owned Zalej Al Yates said. “I’d already had my Team Mitchelton rider Great Britain’s Adam Yates celebrates his overall leader yellow jersey on the podium Venturini (FRA/ALM) s.t., 10. Cham (FR) (Azadi x Al Kahira) shower and everything I asked at the end of the 5th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 185 km between Hugo Hofstetter (FRA/ICA) s.t., Shadad (TM Fred Texas x was the runners up, securing a Julian and he told me he had Gap and Privas, on Wednesday. (AFP) 11. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/DDT) Nasrat) added a new Stakes one-two for the silver and ma- a time fine, but tomorrowI ’ll s.t., 12. Christophe Laporte (FRA/ race to his record when giving a roon colours. He is trained by give it everything to defend the days as Van Aert edged a tight Jumbo leader Primoz life as the race entered Privas. COF) s.t., 13. Casper Pedersen fine demonstration on the Pre- Thomas Fourcy and was rid- jersey and we’ll see day by day. bunch sprint on a narrow Roglic won Tuesday’s stage “They are here and they (DEN/SUN) s.t., 14. Alexander mio Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al den by Jerome Cabre. “It’ll be a big fight tomor- winding finish. testing the other overall con- know how to win. They are Kristoff (NOR/UAE) s.t., 15. Hugo Nahyan Cup at San Sebastian Mohamed bin Fahad Al Atti- row and Julian will want to In another change of jer- tenders with his late kick and powerful team,” Van Aert said. Houle (CAN/AST) s.t., 16. Julian in Spain on Wednesday. yah’s Miss Boum Al Maury (FR) show he’s still here,” he added. seys Ireland’s Sam Bennett, claiming the stage win atop the “But we are just focussing Alaphilippe (FRA/DEC) s.t., 17. The Al Shaqab Racing’s (Boum De Ghazal x Melody Al Deceuninck-Quick Step’s who is on the same Deceuninck climb to an Alpine ski station. on ourselves.” Adam Yates (GBR/MIT) s.t., 18. homebred gelding is trained Maury) was a further length be- Alaphilippe, who wore the jer- team as Alaphilippe, clinched On Wednesday, it was a Van Aert won a windy Egan Bernal (COL/INE) s.t., 19. by Charles Gourdain and was hind, completing a fully-Qatari sey for 14 days during last year’s the green sprint points shirt hectic and windy finale as the stage on the 2019 Tour when Miguel Ángel López (COL/AST) already a Group winner last coloured frame. The Mrs JF Tour, took the news on the chin. from seven time winner Peter race wound into the remote many of the purist sprinters s.t., 20. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/ year as a three-year-old. Bernard-trained bay filly was “What can you do,” said the Sagan by finishing third. Ardeche region where some of had been dropped, and was CCC) s.t., 21. Guillaume Martin With Maxime Foulon in ridden by Antoine Werle. former French soldier. “They Van Aert’s Jumbo-Visma the pure sprinters were actually part of the team time-trial vic- (FRA/COF) s.t., 22. Romain Bardet the saddle, the grey sat promi- Shadad is by Al Shaqab decided to impose a 20 second arrived at the Tour as the in- dropped as the pace hit 60km tory for his outfit. (FRA/ALM) s.t., 23. Nairo Quin- nently in this five-runner race stallion TM Fred Texas. He is penalty and it’s their choice. form team with the most pow- an hour in the closing 10km. “It was a sweet win,” said tana (COL/ARK) s.t., 24. Richard and, in the straight, pulled out of the Amer mare Nasrat. There will be other days and erful looking line-up in the Ineos, who have signed Van Aert, who won both Mi- Carapaz (ECU/INE) s.t., 25. Tadej clear of his rivals. Despite He is her first winner recorded other opportunities,” he said. Grand Boucle, and are the chief Yates for next season, were lan San Remo and the Strade Pogacar (SLO/UAE) s.t. drifting off his line into the on France Galop. Nasrat is a In the stage itself power- challengers to the dominance heading up the peloton as it Bianchi classics in Italy ahead Selected: 30. Primoz Roglic centre of the track, he secured daughter of the excellent pro- ful Dutch outfit Jumbo-Visma of Team Ineos who have won raced past fields of wilting sun- of the Tour. (SLO/JUM) s.t., 31. Thibaut Pinot an easy one and a quarter- ducer Nerva de Cassou, the made it two stage wins in two seven of the last eight Tours. flowers but Jumbo sprung to “It was a hectic run in but (FRA/FDJ) s.t. length victory. dam of Nizam amongst others.

Quick read Pakistan’s ‘fantastic’ Haider Wood wants to lay down Malinga pulls out of virus-hit IPL Ashes marker against Oz New DELHI: Veteran Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga has pulled Ali impresses Langer AFP a bio-secure bubble for two out of the Indian Premier League “to be with his family”, his team London months while hardly playing said Wednesday, adding to growing list of players abandoning the AFP but that he was not the type to coronavirus-hit Twenty20 tournament. Malinga has asked to be let Manchester England fast bowler Mark go “moaning and groaning” to go for personal reasons the Mumbai Indians said, while also an- Wood hopes to finish a frus- the selectors. nouncing he would be replaced by Australian quick James Pattinson. Australia coach Justin trating season with a flourish “You never want to be left The 37-year-old Malinga has been with the Mumbai team – record Langer praised Pakistan’s during an upcoming white- out, or the easy drop,” Wood four-time IPL winners -- since the inaugural edition in 2008. (AFP) “fantastic” Haider Ali after the ball series against Australia told a conference call on teenager marked his interna- and lay down a marker ahead Wednesday. Sri Lanka’s cricket league gets Nov start tional debut with a sparkling of the 2021/22 Ashes. “It’s not my style to shout fifty against England. The Durham quick has and scream. I have a great re- Colombo: Sri Lanka’s virus-delayed premier league will now be The 19-year-old made 54, been largely surplus to Eng- lationship with (England head played from mid-November, the country’s cricket board announced becoming the first Pakistan land’s requirements in a home coach) Chris Silverwood and I Wednesday. The 23-match Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held batsman to score a half-centu- season taking place against the just asked him honestly what I from November 14 to December 6, with matches in Dambulla, Kandy ry in his first T20I as the tour- backdrop of the coronavirus. needed to do to get in the team and Hambantota. Five teams named after the Sri Lankan cities of Co- ists beat England by five runs Wood featured in the first and improve. lombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will take part. The LPL was in a last-ball thriller in Man- Test against the West Indies at “He said he was happy due to start on August 28 but postponed after health authorities chester on Tuesday. Southampton in July – a match with me but just that I didn’t insisted on lengthy quarantine for foreign players. (AFP) Haider came in with Paki- England lost – and hasn’t get selected. I think once you stan 2-1 after the loss of Fakhar Pakistan’s Haider Ali celebrates his half century during the interna- played international cricket know you are not in the team, Former England all-rounder David Capel dead Zaman at Old Trafford yet tional Twenty20 International against England at the Old Trafford since, failing to earn a recall in you are disappointed but you struck his second ball in inter- cricket ground in Manchester, England, on Tuesday. (AFP) the remainder of that series and are very lucky to still be in a London: Ex-England all-rounder David Capel has died aged 57 national cricket, from off-spin- in England’s three Tests against squad playing for England.” following a long illness, his former county Northamptonshire an- ner Moeen Ali, for a soaring six. T20 series finished all square Shaun Marsh. Pakistan last month. Wood was a member of nounced on Wednesday. Capel, who played 15 Tests and 23 one-day “He’s fantastic,” said at 1-1, with one rain-marred “I’ve known him since But with England hav- the England side that won internationals between 1987 and 1990, was diagnosed with a brain Langer in a conference call no result. he was born. Geoff Marsh ing completed their Test pro- the 50-over World Cup last tumour in 2018. The club said on their Twitter account: “It is with Wednesday from Southamp- The game was also notable (Shaun’s father) and Michelle, gramme for the season, and no year and he now has a chance incredibly heavy hearts that we announce the death of former North- ton, where Australia begin a for a stand of exactly 100 be- they are great friends of mine. longer having a need to field to resume his international amptonshire and England great David Capel at the age of 57.” three-match Twenty20 series tween Haider and 39-year-old Geoff was my first captain. separate red and white-ball white-ball career. Capel, who was one of a number of all-rounders burdened with the of their own against England veteran all-rounder Moham- “We played together when squads, Wood has been selected “It’s always good when tag of being the “new Ian Botham”, made his Test debut against later this week. mad Hafeez, who made an un- he was 17 or 18 for Western for a three-match Twenty20 se- you play for England, don’t Pakistan in 1987, scoring a half-century. He was also part of the “Pakistan as we’ve always beaten 86. Australia. I understand that ries against Australia at South- get me wrong, but there’s an England team that produced a huge shock by beating the powerful known, they are like a sleeping Asked if he had ever been experience for the Pakistanis ampton that starts on Friday extra incentive when you play West Indies in Jamaica in 1990. giant. They’ve got so much tal- involved in a partnership last night. It’s great to see these and three subsequent one-day Australia, your biggest rivals,” Capel scored 374 Test runs at an average of 15.58, with a highest ent, it’s like India, it’s exciting featuring a similar age gap, young kids come in and play. internationals against the same said Wood, a member of the score of 98 against Pakistan in Karachi in 1987, and took 21 to watch.” former Australia opening “He (Haider) hit a six off opponents later this month. England side that defeated the wickets at 50.66 with his medium pace. (AFP) Pakistan’s tour-ending vic- batsman Langer replied: “My his second ball in international The 30-year-old said it had Australians in the semi-finals tory meant the three-match experience of that was with cricket – it’s exciting to watch.” been “hard mentally” living in of the World Cup.