TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014 SPORTS B’desh seek revival after first Test flop CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh are look- Sangakkara expected another match- ing for an all-round improvement as winning performance by his team, but they try to bounce back from a mas- refused to take victory for granted. sive defeat in the first Test against Sri “We’re pretty much used to Lanka when the second and final Bangladesh putting up a good fight,” match starts today. said Sangakkara. “They pushed us in The hosts were annihilated by an the series in Sri Lanka and we walked innings and 248 runs inside four days away with a one-all draw in the one- in Dhaka last week, having been dayers. GulfRun 9 winners honored bowled out for 232 and 250 in good “We won’t expect anything less batting conditions in which Sri Lanka than that from them here. The earlier KUWAIT: GulfRun hosted a ceremony to Ebrahim Al Abdullah and Sami Haidar, suc- piled up 730-6. Mahela Jayawardene game may have been easier than we award the winners of the GulfRun 9 race ceeded in reaching first place in the Circuit led the way with an unbeaten double- thought it would be, but we expect it that took place at the Bahrain International Champion Category whilst Fahad Al century and two others scored hun- to be different here.” Circuit on January 23-24, 2014. At the cere- Shammari, Manaf Al Otaibi and Nawaf dreds as Bangladesh conceded their Sri Lanka have won 14 of their 15 mony held on February 2nd, 2014, GulfRun Salman drove their cars to the limit and highest Test total in another morale- Tests against Bangladesh, eight of trophies were presented to the winners in ranked first in the Quartermile category. sapping loss. them by an innings margin, and the presence of the title sponsor Wataniya Moreover, Anas Kanawati, with his Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al drawn the other. On their previous Telecom in addition to other GulfRun spon- Mitsubishi EVO was declared winner of the Hasan said his team-mates had put tour in 2008-09, Sri Lanka won the first sors. Autocross category. the setback behind them and looked Test in Dhaka by 107 runs and the sec- Ahmed Al Mudhaf, GulfRun Co-Founder Furthermore, Al Mudhaf also stated “We forward to playing a good Test on a ond in Chittagong by 465 runs. said: “GulfRun 9 was an exceptional race due are looking forward to celebrating GulfRun’s good pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Bangladesh, who languish at the to the returning drivers being a lot more 10th year next year which would not have Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong. bottom of the Test rankings at num- experienced and skilled than in previous been possible without the support of our “Everyone was a bit down and sad ber 10 — lower than unfancied years, plus several exquisite new cars joined sponsors and we would like to extend our after the loss in Dhaka, but they are Zimbabwe-have lost 68 of their 82 this year, and impressive new racers.” gratitude towards Kuwait’s private sector, fine now and focused on the next Tests since gaining full status in 2000. Al Mudhaf also added, “We have ensured which acknowledges the important role match,” Shakib said. “Matches can go They have won four Tests, two each that all participating drivers experienced the sports plays amongst Kuwait’s youth.” bad, but coming back is very impor- against Zimbabwe and the West thrills of speeding while being in a safe and Title Sponsor is Wataniya Telecom; tant. “We have come back from situa- Indies. secure environment with the help of quali- Platinum Sponsors are Algida, Transcrate, tions like these before, so we have Bangladesh (from)- Mushfiqur fied trainers and instructors from the Jashanmal, Hydrotek Engineering Co, and that experience. But we have to Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Marshall Bahrain International Circuit.” Arabian Construction Co. Gold Sponsors are improve in all aspects, especially the Ayub, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, The top three participants of each car Slider Station, Al Sawan Co, Bayan Dental, fielding.” CHITTAGONG: Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene Mominul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, class Street, Super and Unlimited were Seven Friday and Moto Care. Supporting Shakib said each of the high-scor- stretches during a training session at The Zahur Ahmed Mohammad Mahmudullah, Imrul awarded with the GulfRun trophy as they sponsors are Sirbb Circuit and 360 Mall. ing Sri Lankan batsmen, including Chowdhury Stadium. —AFP Kayes, Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi, achieved the best lap times in the different Dealer Sponsors are Fouad Alghanim & Sons Jayawardene, were let off in the field Robiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin competitions (Quartermile, Circuit Automotive Co, and Abdul Rahman Bisher & through dropped catches or missed Mahmudullah to back up Shakib and injury and seamer Shaminda Eranga Hossain. Champion and Autocross). Ahmed Al-Fahed, Zaid Alkazemi. stumpings. Sohag Gazi on a wicket that could take picked up a thigh injury during the Sri Lanka (from) - Angelo Mathews “Had we grasped those opportuni- turn as the match progresses. first Test. (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth ties, they may not have scored more Sri Lanka were dealt a blow as two A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Final Race Standing: than 500 runs,” he said. “And there is key bowlers were ruled out of the Test said the duo will be replaced by Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Circuit Champion in plenty of difference between 500 and due to injuries and ordered to return Thisara Perera and Kusal Perera, who Kithuruwan Vithanage, Kusal Perera, Street Class 700.” Bangladesh could play an addition- home to recuperate. are expected to arrive before the toss Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, 1. Ahmad Fahed Al Fahad Mercedes C63 Black series 30 Points al slow bowler in either left-armer Abdur Frontline left-arm spinner Rangana today. Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Vishwa 2. Bader Al Sarraf BMW M3 17points Razzaq or off-spinner Mohammad Herath suffered a recurring knee Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Fernando, Ajantha Mendis. —AFP 3. Azzam Al Otaibi Caterham 16 points Super Class Warne to ‘think about’ England coaching job 1. Ebraheem Al Abdulla Porsche GT3RS 30 Points 2. Munther Al Wagayan Porsche GT3RS 16 Points SYDNEY: Australian bowling great Shane Warne, so record 708 Test wickets, tormented England during his without a second thought,” it said on its website. 3. Azzam Al Otaibi Caterham 14 Points often the cause of England’s demise, offered yesterday celebrated career, including a 1994 hat-trick, but was “Surely you wouldn’t coach the Poms mate??” tweeted to think about reviving the old enemy as the country’s also well-known for his off-field antics. Melbourne’s former batsman and colleague Michael Slater. Unlimited Class 1. Sami Haidar Chevrolet Z06 30 Points next coach. Herald Sun urged Warne to think again about his offer. England’s one-day coach Ashley Giles is among the 2. Ahmed Al Kandari Mitsubishi Evo 24 Points As England players flew home in the early hours “You should be dismissing hare-brained ideas like that favourites to take over from Flower. —AFP 3. Tamer Al Shawa Nissan GTR 17 Points following a final defeat in Sydney, Warne took to Twitter in answer to calls for him to apply for the role. Zimbabwe cricketers agree to end strike Quarter mile “To my English followers, I’m flattered that you Street Class would like me to consider the England job,” Warne HARARE: Zimbabwe’s cricketers have agreed to “Obviously I’m relieved that at least we can get 1. Fahad Al Shammari BMW M5 tweeted.”All I can say is-I will think about it!!!” end their boycott over unpaid wages and are on with the core business. We are starting training 2. Mahmoud Al Ghanim Audi RS6 The comment could of course be a wind-up from returning to training after being promised money tomorrow (Tuesday) as a squad,” Waller said. 3. Ahmad Al Sabah Audi S7 the 44-year-old who, at the end of January, was named by next week, coach Andy Waller said yesterday. Zimbabwe is due to compete at the World Super Class as spin consultant ahead of Australia’s World Twenty20 Waller told The Associated Press that the Twenty20 next month, with its first game against 1. Manaf Al Otaibi Audi R8-V10 campaign starting in Bangladesh in March. Cricket national squad will gather on Tuesday for fielding Ireland on March 17. “We lost quite a substantial 2. Zaid Al Sager Audi R8 V10 Australia said Warne would support head coach Darren practice and fitness tests after striking for two amount of time that we could have used to work 3. Hussain Thiyab Mitsubishi Evo Lehmann, providing specialist training for the squad’s months over unpaid wages and bonuses and on a few areas, but we’ve still got six weeks, spinners. refusing to play domestic games. which can give us plenty of time to prepare,” Unlimited Class And Warne later made it clear Australia remained The Zimbabwe cricket board’s financial prob- Waller said. 1. Nawaf Salman Porsche 997 turbo his number one concern. lems also resulted in recent tours by Sri Lanka Zimbabwe cricket has been troubled by off- 2. Tamer Al Shawa Nissan GTr “Re Eng job, I know it’s created a bit of interest and Afghanistan being canceled, but the board field issues for at least a decade, partly because of 3. Bader Al Rayes Porsche turbo hahaha,” he wrote. “I’m flattered to be considered, but has reportedly secured a $3-million loan from the the southern African country’s economic melt- Autocross my priorities, as always, are with the Aussies.” International Cricket Council.