International Duty Beckons for QSL Stars the Players Will Return to QSL Action After Their International Commitments End Next Week

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Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani speaks to Qatar coach Daniel Carreno during a training session in Doha yesterday. Qatar are getting ready to take on Hong Kong in their Asian Zone Group C qualifier on the road to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The match is only of academic interest to Qatar as they have already made the final stage of qualifying from Asia thanks to their all-win record from six group matches so far.

SPOTLIGHT International duty beckons for QSL stars The players will return to QSL action after their international commitments end next week

By Sports Reporter Lekhwiya’s South Korean Doha pro Nam Tae-hee is one of several foreign stars in the QSL who will be on duty for atar Stars League stars Nam their respective countries Tae-hee of Lekhwiya and over the next few days. Abderrazak Hamdallah of El Jaish head the list of QSL internationalQ stars set to be called up for national duty this week when club games give way to qualifying matches and international friendlies. With international football teams around the world preparing for key 2018 FIFA World Cup matches in the coming fi ve days, Lekhwiya’s reli- able midfi elder Tae-hee and El Jaish’s prolifi c striker Hamdallah will join Al Sailiya’s Gragos Grigore, Qatar SC’s Han Kook-young, Al Rayyan’s Koh Myongjin and Al Gharafa duo of tournament in France. Four days Al Sailiya defender Dragos Grigore, Krisztian Nemeth and Vlaidmir Weiss later, Weiss could also be involved in will be donning the Romanian na- on international duty. Slovakia’s clash against Republic of tional team colours this week. Grig- Morocco’s new head coach Hervé Ireland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. ore, 29, is part of the squad to take on Renard will be hoping striker Ham- Weiss has scored 8 goals in the QSL a visiting Lithuania outfi t. Four days dallah - who has scored an impres- this season, with the January signing later, Romania will take on former sive 17 goals in his debut QSL sea- aiding Al Gharafa to 8th spot after World Cup and European champions son - returns to national duty with 23 QSL matches. The Cheetahs have Spain. The two teams are preparing similar form when Morocco take on shown indiff erent form this season, for Euro 2016. Grigore scored in Al Cape Verde at Stade de Marrakech. but Weiss has been one of the shining Sailiya’s 1-1 draw against Qatar SC The clash this week is part of the lights for the former QSL champions. three days ago. Al Sailiya, coached 2017 Africa Cup of Nations quali- The 26-year-old last scored against by Sami Trabelsi, are currently in 7th fi cation tournament. Hamadullah, Al Sadd two weeks ago and was seen place in the QSL standings. the 25-year-old El Jaish striker, has at his feisty best against Al Kharaitiy- South Korea has called up Le- scored in three out of last four QSL at in a 1-1 draw last week. khwiya’s midfi elder Nam Tae-hee for games, paving way for his side to be Weiss’s Al Gharafa teammate international week. Tae-hee is also placed in second spot with just three Krisztian Nemeth will be keen to joined by compatriots Han Kook- rounds to go in the current QSL sea- power Hungary’s cause in the Myg- young of Qatar SC and Myong-jin son. ars’s international friendly against of Al Rayyan. South Korea face off Similarly, Al Gharafa winger Croatia. Nemeth, the 27-year-old against Lebanon & Thailand in 2018 Vladimir Weiss will be key to Slova- Al Gharafa star, scored in his team’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match- kia’s cause in international friendly QSL 4-0 rout of Al Sailiya two weeks es. Tae-hee, has played key roles in ties. Slovakia will take on Latvia on ago. Overall the January signing has Lekhwiya winning QSL titles, the March 25, as they ramp up prepara- scored 6 goals in just seven starts this 24-year-old winger has scored 8 goals tions for the upcoming Euro 2016 season. for Lekhwiya this season. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 CRICKET

PREVIEW REPORT Indian women go Focused England down to England by two wickets for 2nd defeat on trot take on spirited IANS could only score 20. The middle Dharamsala and lower order had no choice but to hit out then, and Harmanpreet Kaur was the most successful, he Indian women’s with a 25-ball 26 including three cricket team succumbed boundaries. Knight fi nished with to a second successive 3 for 15 while Shrubsole picked up defeat when they went two wickets. Afghanistan today Tdown to England by two wick- In pursuit of 91, England lost ets in the World Twenty20 at the Charlotte Edwards (4) early, HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala Ekta Bisht having her caught by ‘Our priority is on winning. It is a big game and we are certainly not taking Afghanistan yesterday. wicketkeeper Sushma Verma. India batted with a bit too Tammy Beaumont and Sarah for granted. First and foremost we need to get into that game with the right mindset’ much abandon and fi nished on Taylor, however, got the side 90 for 8. England approached back on track, caressing the ball the chase sensibly at the start between gaps, and it seemed to but, in search of a quick fi nish be a straightforward chase at and perhaps a vital boost in their that stage. net run rate, nearly bottled it. But there was a twist in the However, Katherine Brunt tale as Bisht and Harmanpreet and Anya Shrubsole eventually sliced through the line-up to re- saw the side through to a nail- duce England to 71 for 6 and then biting two-wicket win with an 87 for 8. Beaumont was the fi rst over to spare. to perish, top-edging Harman- Earlier, asked to bat, India preet to Anuja Patil for an 18- were left to rue the what-ifs had ball 20. Harmanpreet outfoxed the batters not been so eager to Taylor next ball as the wick- jump the gun earlier in the day. etkeeper-batter was stumped First, VR Vanitha (0) top- for 16. England were 42 for 3 edged a delivery from Heather and played soundly once more, Knight in the opening over to but then Bisht returned to have Lydia Greenway. Knight and Greenway dismissed Then, Smriti Mandhana (12) off successive deliveries. Sciver had a go at Shrubsole in the became Bisht’s fourth wicket as medium pacer’s fi rst over, but England was left in the lurch. Natalie Sciver misjudged the Some excellent fi elding from catch. Anya Shrubsole was not India led to England losing two to be denied, though, as Mand- more wickets but the drama hana inside-edged one on to came to an end with Shrubsole the stumps moments later to be guiding a full toss from Veda out for 12. Krishnamurthy past point to get India were 15 for 2, and that the winning runs. should have set off the alarm India are now third with two bells. It didn’t. Shikha Pandey points, while the West Indies, walked in and decided to attack the home side’s remaining op- Shrubsole as well, but Danielle ponents, and England are on the Wyatt dropped a fairly easy catch top two slots respectively. at deep cover. Knight later had Shikha out for 12, caught bril- Brief scores liantly by Katherine Brunt near England Women 92 for 8 in 20 the boundary, while Sciver sent overs (Beaumont 20; Bisht 4-21, back Mithali Raj for 20 to leave Kaur 2-22 ) beat India Women India on a slippery slope at 47 for 90 for 8 in 19 overs (Kaur 26, 4 in the 13th over. Knight 3-15, Shrubsole 2-12) by Captain Raj tried her best but two wickets

Duminy ruled out of Windies game England pacer Chris Jordan bowls during a practice session outh Africa will play tomor- took 1-31 in three overs in the at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in row’s vital World Twenty20 two-wicket defeat by England in New Delhi yesterday. (AFP) SGroup 1 match against South Africa’s opening game. West Indies without all-rounder The 31-year-old is his coun- JP Duminy who has been ruled try’s leading scorer in Twenty20 AFP the match, Morgan recalled the “hor- opener Mohamed Shahzad scoring 44 in team under their belt. out with a hamstring strain. Internationals with 1,654 runs New Delhi rifi c” feeling in the dressing room at the just 19 balls. “We have played good cricket and Duminy picked up the injury in 70 matches, fourth on the time of the Dutch debacle but said the “I think they are a dangerous side. looking to play well against England as while fielding in Sunday’s 37-run all-time list headed by New Zea- atmosphere was totally diff erent after They have played a really exciting brand well,” he said. “There will defi nitely be victory over Afghanistan and land’s Brendon McCullum. kipper Eoin Morgan vowed that Friday’s morale-boosting victory over of cricket,” said Morgan. “We watched pressure on England ... We are eager to will be a loss for the side with England would not take lowly Af- South Africa. the early stages of the tournament when win at least one match in next two. The bat and ball. ghanistan lightly in today’s must- “Our priority is on winning. It is a big they played and qualifi ed, played some guys are playing to win.” “The scans which were done win World Twenty20 tie after game and we are certainly not taking Af- really good cricket. And we watched both yesterday (Monday) confirmed exitingS their last two major tournaments ghanistan for granted. First and foremost games, South Africa and Sri Lanka. I Teams our clinical suspicion of a ham- with egg on their face. we need to get into that game with the think he (Shahzad) is a good batsman but England (from): Eoin Morgan (captain), string strain which means that England’s 2014 World T20 campaign right mindset,” he said. I think it will be rude of me to single out Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Liam he will be ruled out of Friday’s ended in an embarrassing 45-run defeat “I think Holland was a unique set of any batsman... I think as a side they can Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam game against the West Indies against the Netherlands while a dis- circumstances, I think we were already be quite strong and very destructive.” Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, in Nagpur,” team manager astrous showing at last year’s 50-over out of the tournament. We went into the Morgan said England were considering Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, James Vince, Mohamed Moosajee said in a World Cup was capped by a chastening game with a particularly wrong mindset,” bringing in Liam Dawson as a third spin- David Willey Cricket South Africa statement. loss to Bangladesh. he added. “Disappointment of getting ner alongside Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid Afghanistan (from): Asghar Stanikzai “The plan is to try and get him Morgan’s side will hope to record a knocked out of the World Cup is horrifi c, on a pitch that is expected to off er more (captain), Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, ready for our last round-robin resounding win against Afghanistan in so coming into this game we are really turn than Mumbai, the venue of Eng- Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Karim match against Sri Lanka in Delhi New Delhi today as they seek to up their fresh.” land’s fi rst two games. Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad on Sunday.” run rate in a tight group but the captain Although Afghanistan have lost their Although Afghanistan are eff ectively Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali Duminy has scored 83 runs said there would be no taking victory for two matches in the group stages, they out of the tournament, skipper Asghar Zadran, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, from 48 balls in the competition granted. caused South Africa a fright on Sunday Stanikzai said his side was determined to Shafiqullah Shafiq, Shapoor Zadran, Us- without being dismissed and Speaking to reporters on the eve of with a brisk start to their run chase, with leave India with victory against a major man Ghani

BOTTOMLINE ‘Indian conditions’ lie in wait for England, Afghanistan By Vic Marks in Delhi bounce for avaricious batsmen (he should have completed his The Guardian to lever the ball over the bound- spell by then). ary. Moeen is hoping and expect- And they have a competent ing that will change in Delhi. For left-armer in Amir Hanza as well ngland have been in this certain there will be less bounce as a makeshift wrist-spinner in country for almost three from the pitch and it is possible Sami Shenwari. weeks and for the fi rst that the ball will turn. The par So Delhi has true “Indian con- time they are about to score will be considerable lower ditions” which may suit Afghani- encounterE those oft-quoted “In- than in Mumbai. stan as well as Moeen and Rashid. dian conditions”. Moeen and Rashid may well Those conditions extend to a In Mumbai there was green enjoy bowling here and there is nagging uncertainty about the grass on the pitch; the ball hurried the possibility that Liam Dawson, schedule for the remainder of the through nicely—for those with the Hampshire all-rounder cata- World T20. bats in their hands—and in the pulted into the squad at the 11th Just before the tournament be- land of the spinner the ball seldom hour, might get a game alongside gan—to the frustration of fans, deviated a jot upon landing. the other two spinners. media and players—there were As Moeen Ali, who was still By the same token, the Af- doubts over whether the Feroz valuable to a frequently belea- ghanistan team will not be so Kotla ground was fi t to hold World guered fi elding captain at the disappointed by the likely condi- T20 matches. These have resur- Wankhede Stadium, observed tions for today’s match. faced because one of the stands about this tournament: “There’s They do not lack quality in may be deemed unsafe and would been some good pitches for the spin department. Mohamed therefore have to remain empty. spinners to bowl on. Every time Nabi, the off -spinner, is a wily This would be an embarrass- Adil (Rashid) and I have watched old campaigner prepared to bowl ment for the International Crick- the games we’ve been saying: the “diffi cult” overs in the pow- et Council and the BCCI, espe- ‘We’d love to be bowling on that erplay and towards the end of the cially in a prestigious semi-fi nal, pitch.’” innings. which is due to take place here Moeen was referring to games The 17-year-old leg-spinner on March 30. It would be equally in Nagpur, Kolkata, Dharamsala Rashid Khan has enormous po- embarrassing and logistically and Bangalore. But not those in tential – and a good googly—even tricky to move that semi-fi nal at Mumbai, where there might be if he was smashed for 29 in an such short notice. So the Indian a wet ball, no turn and enough over by AB de Villiers on Sunday adventure continues. Moeen Ali (left), Liam Plunkett (2nd left) and Adil Rashid (3rd right) during the England team's training session in New Delhi yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Wednesday, March 23, 2016 3 CRICKET

REPORT Bangladesh hails ‘valiant’ T20 Tigers Pakistan’s semi-fi nal AFP Dhaka

angladesh hailed its “valiant” cricketers yesterday after Ba narrow three-wicket loss to giants Australia at the World hopes dim further Twenty20 that all but puts the Tigers out of the tournament. The Aussies condemned Bangla- desh to a second straight defeat but a late fightback by Mashrafe Morta- za’s depleted side earned universal praise from print and social media in aft er defeat to Kiwis the cricket-mad nation. “Valiant Tigers go down fighting,” declared the Dhaka Tribune. New Zealand first side to make World Twenty20’s last four stage after third straight win while The New Age and Daily Star newspapers also praised Bangladesh’s Pakistan’s hopes of making the semis now look extremely bleak after their second defeat “fighting” spirit in Monday’s Super 10 Group Two match in Bangalore. “Just loved the team’s eff ort. It was Agencies Mohali New Zealand opener Martin a great game! I’m proud of the way Guptill smacks one to the fence the Tigers played tonight,” Bangla- during his 48-ball 80 against deshi fan Sharjana Alam wrote on ew Zealand opener Martin Guptill Pakistan yesterday. (AFP) Facebook. credited an aggressive approach for Australia opener Usman Khawaja his side’s clinical 22-run demolition hit a quick 50 as his team success- of Pakistan in a key World Twenty20 fully chased down Bangladesh’s Ngame in Mohali yesterday. Guptill, 29, led the charge with a 48-ball 80 total of 156 for five, with only nine as the Black Caps restricted Pakistan to 158-5 balls to spare. off 20 overs after posting a strong 180-5 on a But Bangladesh’s string of bowlers sporting track at the Punjab Cricket Association had mounted a spirited attack after ground. The win extended the Kiwis’ unbeaten suff ering a devastating blow when streak in the tournament and also ensured them ace pacer Taskin Ahmed and spin- a place in the last four, their second semi-fi nal ner Arafat Sunny were suspended of a global event since the last year. for illegal bowling actions at the “We found early that the wicket was better weekend. than what we had been playing on. We wanted The team’s most successful bats- to be aggressive and it paid off for us today,” said man Tamim Iqbal, who has been in a beaming Guptill who was named man-of-the- great form prior to the match, was match. “We put up a decent total and then the bowlers came up and did the job.” also pulled out at the last moment Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan had threat- after he suff ered stomach trouble. ened to run away with the game after a blister- “Good incisive bowling by Mus- ing 25-ball 47 but his dismissal in the sixth over tafizur Rahman and Shakib al-Hasan helped the Black Caps claw back on the back of created an exciting chance for some disciplined bowling and fi elding. victory,” wrote former Bangladeshi Kiwi captain Kane Williamson was all praise captain Gazi Ashraf in the Ben- for his rookie spinners who have been the talk of gali Prothom Alo daily, ruing some the tournament for their guile and skill. missed catches. “They (spinners) have been very consist- Bangladesh, who qualified from ent, very smart,” said Williamson. “We played the preliminary round for the Super on a couple of wickets that spun viciously. And then we came here and they adapted nicely on a 10 stage, lost heavily to Pakistan in wicket that didn’t off er a huge amount of spin. their opening match and sit bottom The way the guys adjusted again on a diff erent of Group Two, leaving them virtu- surface was very good.” ally no chance of making the semis. Sharjeel gave Pakistan a fl ying start, hitting They play India today. nine fours and a six, but the rest of the batsmen failed to rise up to the task. His sparkling innings came to an end when he holed out to Guptill off Adam Milne, and it was all downhill thereafter for Pakistan. Guptill was the star of the show though, smacking three sixes and 10 fours in his match- winning knock after Williamson won the toss and elected to bat. Ross Taylor chipped in with an unbeaten 23-ball 36 to help his side put up a strong total on the board. After a tentative start, Guptill smacked a huge Pakistan’s chances of advancing in the tour- G Elliott (not out) ...... 1 Bowling: Santner 4-0-29-2, Anderson 2-0-14-0, six and a boundary off left-arm paceman Mo- nament now appear slim with their second de- Extras (lb-4, w-3) ...... 7 Milne 4-0-26-2, McClenaghan 4-0-43-0, Elliott hamed Irfan in the second over to set the pace feat in a row. Total (5 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 180 2-0-16-0, Sodhi 4-0-25-1 for his innings. Irfan’s new ball partner Mo- “Shehzad and Sharjeel started off very well Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Williamson), 2-75 (Munro), hamed Amir was not spared either, whacked for but we didn’t utilise the start,” said a dejected 3-127 (Guptill), 4-132 (Anderson), 5-164 (Ronchi) Standings three fours by Guptill, the last two off consecu- Afridi. “We keep repeating the same mistakes Bowling: Amir 4-0-41-0, Irfan 4-0-46-1, Sami 4-0- Group 1 tive balls. The Kiwis raced to 62-0 off eight overs and in this format you win only if you make less 23-2, Wasim 4-0-26-0, Afridi 4-0-40-2 Team P W L Pts NRR before Williamson was caught off Irfan for 17. mistakes. But in every game we keep making Pakistan West Indies 2 2 0 4 +0.893 Pakistan struck again soon with captain Sha- mistakes, it’s not good for the team.” S Khan c Guptill b Milne ...... 47 South Africa 2 1 1 2 +0.816 hid Afridi (2-40) sending back new batsman Co- A Shehzad c Guptill b Santner ...... 30 Sri Lanka 2 1 1 2 -0.171 lin Munro (seven) in the fi rst over that he bowled. K Latif c Elliott b Santner ...... 3 England 2 1 1 2 -0.408 Guptill appeared unruffl ed as he raced to his 10th Scoreboard U Akmal c Guptill b Milne ...... 24 Afghanistan 2 0 2 0 -1.248 half-century in T20 internationals with a couple New Zealand S Afridi c Anderson b Sodhi ...... 19 Group 2 off Afridi, prompting a standing ovation from his M Guptill b Sami ...... 80 Shoaib Malik (not out) ...... 15 Team P W L Pts NRR teammates in the dressing room. K Williamson c Afridi b Irfan ...... 17 Sarfraz Ahmed (not out) ...... 11 New Zealand 3 3 0 6 +1.283 But just as Guptill looked set for a bigger C Munro c Sharjeel b Afridi ...... 7 Extras (lb-5, w-4) ...... 9 Pakistan 3 1 2 2 +0.254 score, he chopped on to his stumps off Moham- C Anderson c Malik b Afridi ...... 21 Total (5 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 158 Australia 2 1 1 2 +0.108 mad Sami, who was most impressive among the R Taylor (not out) ...... 36 Fall of wickets: 1-65 (Sharjeel), 2-79 (Latif), 3-96 India 2 1 1 2 -0.895 Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al-Hasan bowlers with fi gures of 2-23. L Ronchi c Malik b Sami ...... 11 (Shehzad), 4-123 (Afridi), 5-140 (Akmal) Bangladesh 2 0 2 0 -1.749

PREVIEW India have ‘no room for error’ against Bangladesh

AFP they are to be sure of qualifi cation. to battle on. “We will keep fi ghting. We still Bengaluru While Bangladesh have a poor track have two matches to fi ght hard,” he said. record in T20s, they beat India in a one-day Shakib al-Hasan, widely considered series last year. Bangladesh’s best player, said his side eteran fast bowler Ashish Nehra Dhoni said India, fi rm favourites at the needed to stamp out sloppy fi elding includ- said India can’t aff ord any slip-ups start of the tournament to lift a second ing dropped catches that marred their ef- against Bangladesh today if they World T20 title, needed to improve to qual- forts against Australia. “We need to be very are to avoid a humiliating early exit ify from a tough group. disciplined with our bowling and fi elding to Vfrom the World Twenty20 on home soil. “I still feel there is still scope for improve- restrict them (India),” he said. The hosts are precariously placed in fourth ment and in the coming two games that will The Tigers were left reeling after the spot of Group Two after one defeat and one be our priority,” he said after Saturday’s win ICC’s decision at the weekend to suspend win and desperately need an emphatic vic- over Pakistan. their top bowlers Arafat Sunny and Taskin tory against Bangladesh to boost their run New Zealand top the group on four points Ahmed for illegal actions, forcing them to rate as they bid for a semi-fi nals berth. after two wins while Pakistan, Australia and rush in replacements from Bangladesh. India’s six-wicket win over arch-rivals India all have two points. However India’s There are also question marks over star Pakistan on Saturday will have boosted run rate, which could determine who quali- batsman Tamim Iqbal who is unwell and did their confi dence after a shock 47-run defi es, is considerably worse than their rivals. not play against Australia. feat to New Zealand in their opening group “In the fi rst game our run rate went down. match. So it’s not only about winning but you have Teams But Nehra, part of the Indian side that to take care of the run-rate at some point,” India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt won the 50-overs World Cup in 2011, said added Dhoni. and wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bangladesh could not be “taken lightly”. The hosts are seeking to become the fi rst Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan “Only two teams will qualify. Till the country to win the World T20 title twice, Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Moham- time (you do), you need to approach every after clinching the crown in 2007, and also ed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik game as a knockout game. There’s not too the fi rst to win at home. Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Rohit much room for error,” the 36-year-old said A depleted Bangladesh, by comparison, Sharma, Yuvraj Singh. in yesterday’s pre-match press conference. will be desperate for a win after two straight Bangladesh (from): Mashrafe Mortaza “Everyone in the dressing room, we are not losses, the latest to Australia by three wick- (capt), Shakib al-Hasan, Abu Hider, Al-Amin taking Bangladesh lightly.” ets on Monday. Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mohamed Mithun, Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has Sitting at the bottom of Group Two after Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir urged his big-hitters to improve their run also losing to Pakistan, the Tigers have al- Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wicketkeeper), Sab- rate dramatically against Bangladesh and most no chance of advancing to the semi- bir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Virat Kohli takes a selfie with fans during the Indian team’s practice session in Bengaluru yesterday. (AFP) then Australia in the following match if fi nals, but skipper Mashrafe Mortaza vowed Shuvagata Hom, Saqlain Sajib Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT WORLD T20: FIVE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNT SO FAR The group stages of cricket’s World Twenty20 Insurgency-wracked have reached the half-way mark, with every team having played two of their four matches in the league phase. A quick glance... Aussies still not masters Pak province wants of Twenty20 cricket World champions in ODI cricket and number one in Tests, the Austral- ians arrived in India determined to fill the one major gap in their trophy cabinet. But after defeat to New Zealand in their opener followed crack at cricket glory by a scrappy win over Bangladesh, skipper Steve Smith admits his youthful side are struggling to adapt ‘Balochistan players have immense passion, but lack facilities and opportunities. Since the national to diff erent conditions and “we’ve got to improve”. The experiment team is always selected on merit, there is dire need that PCB provide them special grooming. There of dropping David Warner down the order from his usual position are no grounds, academies are not being promoted and no major tournaments are organised here’ as opener has not paid off with the vice captain making just six and 17 in his two innings. The decision to leave Aaron Finch, the top-ranked batsman in T20s, on the sidelines looks increasingly misguided. Never write off Black Caps After their talisman Brendon Mc- Cullum retired on the eve of the tournament, this was meant to be a period of transition for New Zealand. In both their matches against India and Australia, most pundits saw their batting totals as some way short of being winning scores. But marshalled by astute new skipper Kane Williamson, their bowlers held their nerve and skit- tled out their opponents’ illustrious top-orders cheaply. Rookie spinner Mitchell Santner tops the wickets chart and no one has managed to post a half-century against them. Most of New Zealand’s own batsman have made a start without going on to compile a big innings. If they can put that right, the Black Caps look a decent bet to win their first World Cup. England walk the talk England have long struggled in cricket’s shortest form due to an in- ability to score runs—not any more. Captain Eoin Morgan promised a new, “brash and aggressive” Eng- land and they lived up to that billing in a thrilling win over South Africa when they pulled off the highest successful run chase by any team at a World T20. Their 230 for 8 with two balls to spare was also England’s record total. Morgan will fancy his side’s chances of posting big scores in their two remaining Local cricketers warm up at an group matches against Afghanistan academy in Quetta, Pakistan. (AFP) and a struggling Sri Lanka. If they do, then a semi-final berth may be up: not one of their 15-man squad is Pakistan was riveted last month match is just 4,000 rupees ($40). Cricket Association, agrees that both theirs which would be a massive AFP achievement after defeat to the Lahore from Balochistan, Pakistan’s biggest by its fi rst franchise-based Twen- “Our boys can’t aff ord to be playing provincial and federal cricket authori- and most under-developed province, ty20 league, with fans gathering in for the whole day,” he said, adding that ties have neglected the province. “We West Indies in their opening game. of which Quetta is the capital. a charged atmosphere to watch the he had to defy his own parents who will establish cricket academies and he car park attached to a sports Around 100 metres from the car Quetta Gladiators against Islamabad wanted him to take on “any other pro- provide players with grounds and re- Hard times ahead for SL complex in Quetta, one of Pa- park, at the western end of the Nawab United in the fi nal. fession” that would net him a decent sources,” he promised. It was known that defending kistan’s most dangerous cities, Akbar Bugti cricket stadium, profes- Quetta lost, but their nail-biting run pay day. To achieve this, he has sought help champions Sri Lanka might strug- is full most afternoons—but sional cricketers clad optimistically in to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) fi - Wasim Bari, a former Test cricketer from Socio Pakistan, an NGO working gle with the bat after the retire- Tthere are no cars parked there. national colours practise on the rough, nal reignited calls in some quarters for who has also served as national chief on public welfare projects in Quetta, to Instead, the lanes criss-crossing uneven ground scattered with stones. national selectors to give players from selector, says Baloch players need establish cricket academies and provide ments of Kumar Sangakkara and the enormous stretch of asphalt are “I could not get a permanent place Balochistan—such as the Gladiator’s special attention to become polished proper kits to players in the province. Mahela Jayawardene. But pace fi lled with dozens of teenage boys in Pakistan’s national team because Bismillah Khan—a proper chance. international stars. “Balochistan “We have focused on 37 clubs in spearhead Lasith Malinga’s injury clad in bright colours, playing cricket nobody patronises Balochistan play- “Our players have the best fi tness players have immense passion ... the region and will provide them nets, withdrawal and Rangana Herath’s with tennis balls wrapped in tape and ers like they patronise cricketers from when compared to players from other but lack facilities and opportunities. rollers, kits and all other basic necessi- lack of bite mean the holders lack stumps erected at all points of the other provinces,” says opening bats- parts of the country but they don’t Since the national team is always se- ties,” said Amanullah Kakar, chief ex- obvious match-winners ahead of compass. man Shoaib Khan. have proper grounds, pitches, kits, and lected on merit, there is dire need that ecutive offi cer for Socio Pakistan. their tougher assignments against The chaos of the battlefi eld leaves He is the only cricketer from Balo- gym facilities,” he said, adding that if PCB provide them special grooming,” Sayed Mohamed Sufi , sports editor of England and South Africa. Herath onlookers baffl ed—but each of the chistan to represent Pakistan at the they did “nobody could beat players he said. country’s top private news channel Geo, was one of the stand-outs in the fi elding teenagers knows exactly where international level in recent history, from Balochistan”. Shoaib Khan agrees, saying there said that despite the lack of resources 2014 triumph, taking five for three his ball is fl ying and how he needs to playing four T20 matches during a Security issues complicate matters, was “no sport culture in Balochistan”. things were improving, citing players in the semi-final against New he said, with the PCB refusing to hold “There are no grounds, academies catch it. These boys are devoted to the tour to Canada in 2008 where he was such as PSL star Bismillah Khan. Zealand. But he went wicketless in game in cricket-obsessed Pakistan, second-highest scorer with 99 runs. even Grade II matches in restive Quet- are not being promoted and no major As for Bismillah Khan himself, like whose national team have won both Domestically, he has scored 3,695 ta. Balochistan is one of Pakistan’s tournaments are organised here.” the players at the stadium in Quetta, Sunday’s defeat against the West 50-over and Twenty20 World Cups. runs in 121 innings of 65 fi rst-class most unstable provinces and has been “We don’t ask that you should in- he remains hopeful that he may yet of- Indies where he was outbowled by The current team, however, stands on matches, with the help of seven cen- dogged for over a decade by a bloody clude us in the national team at the fi cially don Pakistan’s colours. team-mate Jeff rey Vandersay, a late the brink of elimination from this year’s turies and 13 fi fties—but has not been separatist insurgency. beginning,” said Gohar Faiz, a talented “I am pretty satisfi ed with my per- replacement for Malinga. Tillakara- World T20 after defeats to arch-rivals tapped again for the national side. Then there is the issue of pay for fast bowler from Quetta—just that formance at the moment and hope to tne Dilshan did smack 83 against and hosts India at the weekend, and to Not one other player from the prov- players trying to make a living in players should be given a chance. be selected for the national team after Afghanistan but no one else has New Zealand in Mohali yesterday. ince has played an international Twen- a province facing grinding poverty Khair Mohamed, the recently the World T20 or by latest at the end of passed 40 and the 39-year-old is There is a glaring hole in their line- ty20, ODI or Test match since Khan. where, Khan said, the fee for a Grade II elected chairman of the Balochistan the year,” he said. hardly one for the future. In India, spin is still king Indian wickets are famous for Afghan team has talent, just need more exposure, says Inzy being happy hunting grounds for spin bowlers and that’s certainly AFP The Afghan team’s progress in game. So if we improve a level, we security situation back home. been the case at the World T20. New Delhi the last few years has been one can win. This Afghanistan team Their captain Asghar Stanikzai Slow-armers are commanding the of cricket’s feel-good stories but has got all the talent, they just said he was “proud” to hear such after the highs of competing in last need more exposure. The more praise but also urged the Interna- top positions in the bowling tables fghanistan’s cricketers year’s 50 over World Cup and the they play international cricket, the tional Cricket Council to ensure while even at Mumbai’s Wankhede must have more exposure World T20, they have no immedi- more their talent will improve.” the team, which is now based in Stadium, a flatter ground known to Ato top-flight opposition ate fixtures against major teams on In Sunday’s match against India, can build on their progress. favour pacemen, fast bowlers are if they are do justice to their the horizon once they leave India. South Africa, Afghanistan were “Many people believed at the finding life diff icult. New Zealand undoubted talent, Pakistani bat- Inzaman, who was appointed 105 for two at one stage in start of the tournament that the spinners Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi ting legend Inzamam-ul-Haq said Afghanistan’s coach last October, pursuit of the Proteas’ total of 210 matches against Afghanistan and Nathan McCullum all feature in yesterday. said his charges had done them- although they were ultimately would be one-sided, but we re- the top 10 most economical bowl- After defeats against Sri Lanka selves proud after qualifying for comfortably beaten after a flurry ally prepared and planned and ers at the tournament. Santner’s and South Africa in their first the group stages by seeing off of wickets. Burly wicket-keeper caused a bit of a scare,” he said, figures of 4-11 against India were a two group matches in the World more established teams such as Mohamed Shahzad once again speaking through an interpreter. resounding vindication of the Black Twenty20, Afghanistan’s latest Zimbabwe and Scotland. caught the eye by smacking five “We need their (ICC) support Caps decision to leave pacemen adventure with cricket’s big guns “It feels good that people are sixes as he raced to 44 in just 19 and we are eager to play each is drawing to a close. appreciating Afghanistan. Boys balls. and every world cup and we have Trent Boult and Tim Southee on But even if qualification for the have worked hard. We have quali- Indian cricket legends Sachin requested full members to play a the bench. Even South Africa’s light- semi-finals is now all but impos- fied for the World Cup and played Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are series with us. “In one game you ning quick Dale Steyn has looked sible, they have won new fans by good cricket,” said the former among those who have expressed cannot compare the potential of a sorry sight, conceding 35 runs giving South Africa a fright and Pakistani skipper. “Okay, we have their admiration for the exploits the team but in a series you can... Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai (right) with coach in just two overs against England still have an opportunity to spring not been able to win a single of a team which has to play all its We are a side who would like to Inzamam-ul-Haq during a training session in New Delhi yesterday. before being taken off . an upset against England today. game, but have played good matches abroad because of the play more series.” Afghanistan play England in a World Twenty20 match today. (AFP) Gulf Times Wednesday, March 23, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

FOCUS CUP OF NATIONS Renard begins FIFA opens probe quest for third into bidding for 2006 African title AFP Johannesburg

ew Morocco coach Herve Renard begins WCup in Germany his quest for a record- equalling third Cup of NNations title with back-to-back Launch of fresh investigation comes as FIFA’s new president Gianni Infantino qualifi ers against Cape Verde, the top-ranked African team. tries to turn the page on the scandal-ridden administration A seven-day, 50-match schedule starts today and the co-Group F leaders meet in Praia Saturday and in Marrakech fi elder Sofi ane Boufal to play for Tuesday in key matches as only the country where his parents mini-league winners are guar- were born. anteed places at the 2017 tourna- Other high-profi le show- ment in Gabon. downs involve Nigeria and Egypt Both countries beat Sao Tome in Group G and Cameroon and e Principe convincingly and Lib- South Africa in Group M. ya narrowly in previous match- Nigeria, who have home ad- days with Cape Verde topping vantage fi rst, are another team the table on goal diff erence. with a new coach as Samson Sia- Renard, a 47-year-old who suc- sia took over when Sunday Ol- ceeded Badou Zaki last month af- iseh quit following a social media ter indiff erent Moroccan perform- attack on his critics. ances, guided no-hopers Zambia Those called up for the Su- to 2012 glory and repeated the feat per Eagles include teenager Alex with perennial underachievers Iwobi, whose fi rst English Pre- Ivory Coast last year. mier League start for Arsenal was Hassan Shehata coached crowned by the second goal in a Egypt to three consecutive tri- 2-0 weekend win at Everton. umphs between 2006 and 2010 Argentina-born Egypt coach and Charles Gyamfi guided Gha- Hector Cuper has recalled na to three titles, but only Renard 43-year-old Cup of Nations- has won the Cup of Nations with winning goalkeeper Essam El diff erent countries. Hadary after an injury ruled out His successes in Africa confi rst choice Sherif Ekramy. trast with failures in France. He The squad also includes in- could not prevent Sochaux being form Roma striker Mohamed relegated and a second Ligue 1 Salah and mid-season Arsenal stint ended this season with Lille recruit Mohamed Elneny. sacking him. Egypt, whose three titles in a Given that Morocco are ranked row were followed by failures to only 19th in Africa, Renard has qualify for the last three tourna- been set a tough target of at least ments, beat Tanzania and Chad reaching the 2017 Cup of Nations convincingly to lead Nigeria by semi-fi nals by his new employ- two points. ers . South Africa coach Ephraim And while some pundits re- ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has come un- main sceptical as to whether der media fi re for picking out-of- In this December 9, 2005, picture, German football legend Franz Beckenbauer (left) and the then FIFA president Sepp Blatter share the stage ahead of the final draw of the FIFA Cape Verde are the strongest Af- favour players like Bournemouth World Cup 2006 in Leipzig. (AFP) rican national football team, as striker Tokelo Rantie for two must- the FIFA ranking suggests, they win games against Cameroon. AFP the DFB into the 2006 World Cup bid- being probed for allegedly failing in his 10-million Swiss franc (6.7-million euro/ are chasing a third consecutive Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were Berlin ding. “duties of disclosure”. $8.0-million, according to the exchange Cup of Nations appearance. held by Gambia and lost to Mau- That report, released on March 4, The launch of a fresh corruption inves- rate at that time) payment that Spiegel Like Morocco, Cape Verde ritania, leaving them bottom of said it could not rule out that Germany tigation comes as FIFA’s new president said was borrowed by the DFB from the will have a new coach with local the table and fi ve points adrift of IFA’s ethics committee yesterday bought votes to secure the tournament, Gianni Infantino is trying to turn the page former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Drey- Felisberto ‘Beto’ Cardoso suc- the Indomitable Lions. launched an investigation tar- and linked Beckenbauer to a “mysteri- on the scandal-ridden administration led fus. ceeding Portuguese Rui Aguas, New Cameroon coach Hugo geting six people over their roles ous” deal with disgraced FIFA offi cial by Sepp Blatter, whose presidency ended It said the money was to buy the who quit after not being paid for Broos will expect a lot from Por- in the bidding that awarded the Jack Warner. in disgrace last month. votes of four Asian members of FIFA’s seven months. to striker Vincent Aboubakar, 2006F World Cup to Germany, with the Along with Beckenbauer, FIFA’s in- The ethics committee statement said 24-strong executive committee. Cape Verdean football offi cials whose two goals have earned six probe partly focused on alleged bribery. house prosecutors are investigating three the German probe may widen further, In 2000, Germany won the bid to stage said the salary was supposed to be qualifying points. Those targeted include Franz Becken- other ex-DFB offi cials for “possible un- noting that “the list of possible viola- the 2006 World Cup, beating South Af- funded by Portugal under a devel- Group H leaders Ghana will lack bauer, the German football legend and due payments and contracts to gain an tions may be supplemented as additional rica by 12 votes to 11, with one abstention. opment and co-operation agree- injured midfi elder Andre Ayew World Cup organising committee chief advantage in the 2006 FIFA World Cup information becomes available.” Separately, 39 people and two comment between the countries. against bottom-of-the-table Mo- who is suspected of bribery, and Wolf- host selection.” panies have also been charged with cor- Former assistant coach Car- zambique, but younger brother gang Niersbach, former German football They are Theo Zwanziger, a former TAINTED TOURNAMENT? ruption by the US justice department, doso will rely heavily on Djaniny Jordan is among the strikers cho- federation (DFB) president, who is be- German federation president, Horst R. German football has been roiled by alle- including many of Blatter’s former top and Heldon for goals while Mo- sen by coach Avram Grant. ing probed over possible failure to report Schmidt, an ex-DFB secretary general gations, fi rst levelled by magazine Spiegel deputies. roccan sharpshooter Youssef El Home and away fi xtures against FIFA ethics violations. and Stefan Hans, the DFB’s former chief last October that the DFB used a slush Blatter, and his one-time heir apparent Arabi bagged a brace in Spain at lowly-ranked Sudan off er defend- In a statement, FIFA’s ethics commit- fi nancial offi cer. fund to buy votes to secure the 2006 Michel Platini, have been banned from the weekend. ing champions Ivory Coast a real- tee said it opened the inquiry following Helmut Sandrock, another former DFB World Cup. football for six years over ethics viola- Renard has successfully per- istic chance to win both and build the release of a report commissioned by secretary general, is along with Niersbach A central issue in the German bid was a tions. suaded France-born Lille mid- a four-point Group I lead.

SPOTLIGHT Capello set for sensational Italy job meeting

Fabio Capello could be set for a sensa- on their hands if they are to prise the face Germany in Munich on Tuesday as Belgium cancels tional first appointment as Italy coach 52-year-old former AC Milan midfielder preparations for Euro 2016 continue. after Bologna put the brakes on Roberto away from the Dall’Ara stadium. Conte announced last week he would Donadoni leaving the Serie A club to Bologna president Joey Saputo sug- not extend his stay with Italy after the training session in wake succeed Antonio Conte. gested on Sunday Donadoni was going tournament. Capello, who made his name at Serie A nowhere. He is being linked with the Chelsea job clubs Roma and Juventus before subse- “Roberto has a contract until 2018, so following the sacking of Jose Mourinho of Brussels attacks quent stints as coach of Real Madrid and there’s no problem: he’s calm and deter- earlier this season, and Conte said England, has been out of a job since be- mined and he knows he is a part of the Monday the return to club football is the DPA Courtois tweeted, and mid- ing sacked as coach of Russia last year. club’s development project. priority. Brussels fielder Kevin de Bruyne said on The Italy hot seat is up for grabs after “He has reiterated to me that he wants “The thought of staying away from club the same social network over a this summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France to remain with us.” football for another two years is some- heart in the national colours: after Conte announced he will return Although the FIGC are poring over other thing that doesn’t appeal to me,” he said. orld ranking leaders “Unbelievable! ‘PrayforBel- to club football. He has been linked to candidates, Capello has the highest British and Italian media reports claim Belgium yesterday gium”. Chelsea for the past few months. profile of the bunch. struggling Premier League champions called off a train- Lowly English Premier League Donadoni, who was sacked by the Despite his advancing years, the Chelsea have since signed an agreement ing session for next club Norwich said that their Wweek’s friendly against Portugal Congo striker Dieumerci Mboka- Italian football federation (FIGC) after 69-year-old Capello will meet with FIGC with Conte. their poor showing at Euro 2008, has president Carlo Tavecchio in the coming But Conte has not committed to Stam- in the wake of terror attacks at ni was visiting familiy members been the red hot favourite to replace days, said Gazzetta dello Sport. ford Bridge yet either: “We’ll see what the airport and a metro station and at Brussels airport at the Conte having turned Bologna’s fortunes Italy host Spain—who beat the Az- the future holds for me. Chelsea is not a in Brussels in which dozens have time of the attacks. around this season. zurri 4-0 in the final of Euro 2012 -- in a taboo subject, but there are Italian op- reportedly died. Norwich said Mbokami “was But the FIGC may now have a fight friendly in Udine on Thursday and then tions open to me as well.” “Our thoughts are with the unharmed but shaken by the victims. Football is irrelevant tragic events ... The Club is in today. Training cancelled,” the constant dialogue with Dieumer- Belgian football federation KBVB ci, who has now returned home BOTTOMLINE said on Twitter. to be with his family.” Belgium are due to play Portu- The Brussels incidents were gal on March 29 in Brussels’ Sta- also discussed among the Ger- de Roi Baudoui stadium where man team which was playing Euro 2016 security at a maximum: French minister yesterday’s training session was France on November 13 at the also originally planned. Stade de France which was one The Portuguese federation of the targets of the Paris attacks. AFP Cazeneuve said that the Brussels at- sider our position on some fan zones”. More than 2.5 million fans are expected FPF said in a statement on its Germany’s November 17 Paris tacks “remind us tragically of the high Sports Minister Patrick Kanner also to attend matches in ten host cities with website it was in contact with the match against the Netherlands level of threat we are confronted with”. attended the meeting during which a further 7 million expected in fan zones KBVB. Portuguese sports paper was cancelled after a terror threat But he said it would not aff ect security measures were agreed for systematic during the competition. A Bola said it was doubtful the and they now play England in rench Interior Minister Bernard provided in stadiums and fan zones for pat-downs at fan zones, the use of metal Fan zone security will cost up to 17 mil- game would take place. Berlin on Saturday and Italy on Cazeneuve said yesterday that the June 10 to July 10 tournament. detectors, demining services and video lion euros ($19m), with UEFA promising Belgium has raised its terror March 29 in Munich. security for Euro 2016 was al- “We cannot permanently raise what surveillance in zones welcoming 10,000 3 million euros before the November at- alert level to 4, which indicates a “It will defi nitely be an issue ready at a maximum and could is already a very high level since Janu- to 100,000 fans. tacks, and are now examining a request “serious and imminent” threat. that will on the players’ minds notF be increased further in the wake of ary 2015,” said Cazeneuve, “but we can “It’s an extraordinary exercise,” said for a further one million. Last November, a Belgian in the wake of the Paris events,” more deadly terror attacks in Europe. strengthen the measures”. Kanner. “Never before has an event of European governing body UEFA are friendly with Spain was called off Germany general manager Oliver Cazeneuve was speaking during a “Our position is not to give in to terror- this magnitude been monitored and se- responsible for security in the stadiums, in the wake of the terror attacks Bierhoff said. scheduled Euro 2016 Steering Committee ism,” he continued. “This event can take cured at this level. The image of France is team base camps, offi cial hotels and the in Paris. Defender Shkodran Mustafi meeting on security which took place in place as the COP 21 took place (after the at stake, our ability to host events of this media centre, and will recruit 10,000 “My thoughts are with the said: “If you have been person- Paris as deadly explosions rocked Brus- November attacks). However, we must magnitude with seriousness, composure private security offi cers - seven percent victims and their family!” ally involved you know how the sels airport and metro. have the fl exibility, if necessary, to recon- and determination.” more than planned before November 13. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut people there (in Brussels) feel.” Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 FOOTBALL

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Redknapp urges West Ham recitals Jordan to give everything in earn Payet new WCup qualifi ers

AFP desh fi rst, then play Australia. Sydney The players have to focus, if they don’t, then you fi nd yourself in trouble. Application must be the France chance arry Redknapp yester- same for the two games,” he said. day told Jordan’s play- “Do I think we will reach the ers only their best shot fi nals? I hope so,” said an upbeat As West Ham prepare to leave for London’s Olympic Stadium, French playmaker would do as the English Redknapp. Hcoach took over as interim man- “We will try everything in our Payet has been spearheading Slaven Bilic’s side in a top-four push ager for two upcoming World power to do that. We will give Cup qualifi ers against Bangla- everything we have to do that. AFP desh and Australia. So you can’t do any more, you London “It’s a tough task for these two can only do your best and I will matches,” said the 69-year-old be doing my best and if the play- former West Ham and Totten- ers do their best we have a good new song has energised an old ham boss in his fi rst job as a na- chance. stadium this season as West tional manager. “My message to the play- Ham United’s supporters have Jordan are second in their Asia ers, give everything they have in fallen beneath the spell of shim- zone second round qualifying these two games,” insisted the meringlyA skilful French playmaker Dim- group just two points adrift of Londoner. itri Payet. leaders Australia who they play “I am very proud to accept this The Boleyn Ground, in east London, at the Sydney football stadium chance to come and manage the has been graced by West Ham greats such on March 29 after tackling Bang- Jordan national team, I met the as Bobby Moore, captain of England’s ladesh at home on Thursday. Prince (Ali bin al-Hussein) in 1966 World Cup winners, 1980 FA Cup Jordan need to fi nish either fi rst London and when I was asked to fi nal hero Trevor Brooking and record or as one of the best second placed do it, I had no hesitation in ac- appearance-maker Billy Bonds. teams and will still face a fi nal cepting the off er to come here.” But as West Ham prepare to leave the qualifying round of ten teams split The straight talking Red- 112-year-old arena for London’s Olympic into two groups of fi ve and a po- knapp, known for his charming Stadium, it is the name of Payet, spear- tential play off after that. man-management, also took the heading Slaven Bilic’s side in an improb- South Korea and Qatar are the time to boost his new charges. able top-four push, that is echoing off the fi rst two Asia zone teams through “I am very, very pleased with rafters. to the fi nal qualifying round. the group. They look like great The song, to the tune of Billy Ray “I don’t underestimate any- guys, good professionals, very, Cyrus’s ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, goes: “We’ve body, we have to beat Bangla- very dedicated to do well.” got Payet, Dimitri Payet!/I just don’t think you understand/He’s Super Slav’s man, he’s better than Zidane/We’ve got Dimitri Payet!” Payet’s eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League may have convinced West Ham’s fans he is “better than Zi- dane”, but there is no clear consensus over who, exactly, he resembles. For Bilic, the West Ham manager, the 28-year-old stands comparison with Ar- senal’s German schemer Mesut Ozil. Former West Ham midfi elder Scott Parker says that Payet reminds him of maverick Italian striker Paolo Di Canio, while vice-chairman Karren Brady believes he “ranks with Lionel Messi”. The player himself, touted as a potential Player of the Year in England, has only one idol. “Ronaldinho was my favourite player,” Payet told British newspapers recently. “People say he enjoyed humiliating defenders, but he was always effi cient. I try to put on a show while being eff ective because the spectators come to be enter- tained by beautiful play.” Newcastle owner Mike Ashley says A cut-price £10.7 million ($15.4 mil- he is ‘wedded’ to club lion, 13.7 million euros) signing from West Ham’s Dimitri Payet (left) vies for the ball with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during their English Premier League match at Stam- Marseille last June, Payet proved an in- ford Bridge in London on Saturday. (Reuters) Newcastle United owner Mike stant hit, scoring fi ve goals in his fi rst nine Ashley has expressed regrets about league games. dous 30-yard free-kick in a 1-1 draw at Old his dream of becoming a professional by But faced with the incontrovertible getting into football but has aff irmed Traff ord. his father, Alain. evidence of his West Ham form, France that he has no interest in selling the FLAMBOYANT BUT ERRANT Amid reports of a mega-money off er Off ered a path back to Ligue 1 by coach Didier Deschamps has ended club. In his second public interview His performances helped West Ham from China, Payet signed a new fi ve-year Nantes, he acquired a reputation as a Payet’s nine-month international exile in 10 months, the Sports Direct climb to third in the table and al- contract in February and this month he fl amboyant but errant talent. by calling him up for the Euro 2016 hosts’ founder has stated that he will not though they slipped back during his was elected London’s Player of the Year. At Nantes he clashed in training with friendlies against Holland and Russia. quit even if the Toons are relegated two-month absence with an ankle in- It was the fi rst individual award he had former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. “If I hadn’t taken Dimitri, it would from Premier League. “I’ve got no jury—going eight games without vic- ever won, refl ecting a career that, prior to At Saint-Etienne he headbutted team- have been for non-sporting reasons,” choice,” he said. “I am wedded to tory—his return has seen them surge his arrival in England, had been dogged mate Blaise Matuidi in the middle of a Deschamps explained last week. “And Newcastle like Sports Direct. They’ve back to fifth, a point off the Champi- by reservations about his temperament match. At Marseille he fell out with Flo- as I don’t have any, it seems completely got me and I’ve got them. That’s just ons League places. and consistency. rian Thauvin. logical to me that he should return.” the way it is.” They are also due to face Manchester Hailing from the French island of La It partly explains why Matuidi—now of Back in the blue of his country just in Newcastle lie second from bottom with 25 points after a 1-1 draw United in an FA Cup quarter-fi nal re- Reunion in the Indian Ocean, Payet was Paris Saint-Germain—has 41 France caps time for Euro 2016, Payet’s next aim will against rivals Sunderland on Sunday. play—the last cup tie the Boleyn Ground released by mainland club Le Havre at 16 to Payet’s 15, despite the two being born be to have the whole of France dancing to “[The situation] is disappointing, because I personally want to will stage—after Payet netted a stupen- and had to be persuaded not to abandon less than two weeks apart. his tune. win every game at Newcastle United. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing - it doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly,” Ashley told British media. “I wanted us to win [against Sunderland] and I’m a little CHANGE disappointed. But it’s not a disaster.” Cech is Czech With the recent appointment of Rafael Benitez meeting with renewed optimism among supporters, Ashley hopes that the player of the year optimism will transfer into the pitch. “I think we’ve got the right for eighth time man in the job. If there’s any chance of us staying up - let’s hope Leicester to face Barca, Rafa can do the business and keep us up,” he said. Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech Relegation from the Premier League could cost clubs upto was voted Czech Republic player 100mn pounds due to the advent of the 8 billion pounds telecast of the year for 2015, the former deal from the start of 2016-17 season. PSG in Champions Cup Chelsea stopper picking up the award for a record eight time. Sparta Prague striker David Manchester United announce China Reuters ter meeting representatives of Arsenal, Lafata, the previous year’s win- tour in July London Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool ner, came second and Hertha and Manchester City in London to dis- Berlin midfielder Vladimir Darida Manchester United will tour China in July as part of their prepara- cuss a closed structure for the Champi- finished third in voting for the tions for the 2016-17 season, the English Premier League giants eicester City will play Barcelona, ons League. award based on a poll of players, announced yesterday. Celtic and Paris St Germain in “When they came up with the Cham- coaches, football federation of- United will spend eight days in the country and play two matches, this year’s International Cham- pions League, the idea wasn’t to have ficials and journalists. with fixture dates, venues, opposition teams and ticket details to pions Cup (ICC), the Premier PSV (Eindhoven) and Ghent playing in Cech first claimed the award in be announced in the coming days. LLeague leaders said yesterday. the knockout stage,” he said. 2005, the year he was instrumen- It will be United’s 11th trip to China, where the club estimates it The pre-season tournament is organ- “What would Manchester United ar- tal in helping Chelsea win a first has 107 million supporters. ised by Relevant Sports whose chairman gue? Did we create soccer or did Leices- English league title for 50 years. “Manchester United has strong historical links with China and we Charlie Stillitano met representatives of ter? Who has had more of an integral The 33-year-old left Chelsea for are very proud of our relationship and of our fans throughout the top European clubs this month to discuss role (in European football), Manchester Arsenal at the end of last season country,” United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said in a changing the Champions League to en- United or Leicester? after securing four Premier statement. “A total of almost 500,000 supporters have attended sure the elite are always in it and the likes “There are wonderful, wonderful ele- League titles and a Champions previous games during our visits to China and we have always en- of Leicester are not. ments to relegation and promotion and League winner’s medal. He also joyed exceptional support in the country, so naturally it is something Leicester, one of fi ve Premier League there are good arguments for a closed set a club record 220 clean that everybody is very much looking forward to this summer.” teams involved in the 2016 event, begin Leicester City’s Marc Albrighton system.” sheets with the Blues. United’s most recent game in China was a fixture against Kitchee their campaign against Celtic on July 23 in celebrates winning the game against Leicester were founded in 1884 and Cech sustained a calf injury in SC in July 2013, which was attended by a sell-out 40,000 crowd. Glasgow. They travel to Los Angeles to face Crystal Palace on Saturday. (Reuters) elected to the Football league in 1894. the FA Cup defeat to Watford on China has become a key commercial battleground for the Pre- Paris St Germain on July 30 before taking They are on course to lift their fi rst-ever March 13 but is expected to be mier League’s leading teams. on Barcelona in Stockholm on Aug 3. The Foxes will compete alongside top-fl ight title and have a fi ve-point lead back in action shortly after the A Chinese consortium bought a 13 percent stake in the parent “This is the best roster of teams in Chelsea and Liverpool in the main draw. at the top of the table, with seven games upcoming international break. group of United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City in December, ICC history and having them start their Manchester City and Tottenham Hot- left. Arsenal are third in the Premier two months after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the club 2016-2017 campaign playing against spur, the other two Premier League clubs Manchester United, England’s richest League, 11 points behind leaders during a state tour. Yesterday, City announced a new regional each other will be a treat for both fans involved, will play standalone showcase club who have won a record 20 league ti- Leicester City with eight matches partnership with sports activity brand SoccerWorld, which will and the players,” Stillitano said in a matches. tles, played in the 2014 and 2015 Cham- remaining as they pursue a first see coaches from City visit China twice a year to train local statement on Leicester’s website (www. Stillitano came under fi re for his com- pions Cups but will not take part this English league title in 12 years. coaches. lcfc.com). ments on Sirius XM satellite radio af- year. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 23, 2016 7 FOOTBALL

FOCUS FRIENDLIES Confi dent Italy take on Spain, Germany Del Bosque looking in Euro tune-ups

DPA nament in France, he assured Rome unfaltering dedication to the en- terprise. to veteran Aduriz to “Being the national team se- taly coach Antonio Conte lector is a fantastic experience, pulled no punches when he which has enriched me under picked continental power- many aspects,” he said. “I always houses Spain and Germany envied the coaches who repre- Ias sparring partners in the run- sented Italy at big events like the up to Euro 2016. European and world champion- defend Euro crown Tomorrow’s friendly in Udine ships. Now it is my turn and I am against the European champi- excited about this event that we ons and next Tuesday’s visit to have prepared for two years.” 'Neither Costa nor anyone else is ruled out...We are worried about his behaviour' the German world champions in The Azzurri’s run-up includes Munich shows Conte’s courage a fi rst tough hurdle against and professionalism, but will not Spain, who beat them 4-0 in the dispel his disappointment about Euro 2012 fi nal and in 2008 elim- working conditions at the job he inated them on penalties in the took in August 2014. quarter-fi nals. The two squads A week after the domestic fed- are now even on 10 wins each and eration (FIGC) announced his 13 draws. departure after Euro 2016, with “These are two crucial tests, Chelsea the likely destination, beside the result,” Conte said. “I the 46-year-old coach discussed hoped to have everyone available his diffi culties with the business and see if someone can become of managing a national squad in part of the group.” comparison to the daily duty as a Bad news, however, came from club coach. midfi elder Marco Verratti and “I had problems standing still veteran defender Andrea Barzag- in these four months (since se- li, who both left the camp outside curing qualifi cation for Euro Florence after medical tests. 2016),” Conte said Monday, “and Torino striker Ciro Immobile I know it would be very hard to sit hurt himself Sunday in a derby in a parking garage in the coming with Juventus, whose Giorgio years.” Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio The idle periods stem in part were already on the inured list. from the impossibility to hold Conte called up their team- brief training camps with the mate Daniele Rugani from the Azzurri during the league season, Azzurri Under-21 squad while which the clubs have declined to Stefano Okaka of Anderlecht re- discuss. placed Immobile. Conte’s latest disappointment Besides Rugani, other new- came this week as the Lega Serie comers are Fiorentina forward A, representing the clubs, re- Federico Bernardeschi and Napoli fused to move forward the May midfi elder Jorginho, a naturalised 21 Italian Cup fi nal between Ju- Brazilian just like Paris Saint-Ger- ventus and AC Milan. The coach main’s Thiago Motta, who rejoins had hoped that the players could the Azzurri for the fi rst time since have a few more days of rest be- the 2014 World Cup. fore the Euro 2016 debut on June Veteran play-maker Andrea 13 against Belgium. Pirlo, a 2006 world champion As some fear that his an- playing with New York City, is nounced departure will weigh not in the group but Conte is on the two and a half months re- likely to consider him for the fi nal maining to the start of the tour- Euro squad.

Spain team players Sergio Ramos (left), Juan Mata and Aritz Aduriz (right) attend a training session in Las Rozas, near Madrid, Spain on Monday. (Reuters)

DPA him out of the squad for the friendlies in goals in La Liga and eight in the Europa Aduriz’ international experience is Madrid Italy and Romania. League, in which he is the tournament limited to the last 15 minutes of a 3-1 win Zamparini plans to sell Palermo “There are still two months before the top scorer. against Lithuania in 2010, when he was a defi nitive list (for Euro 2016),” Del Bosque Aduriz started the season like a house Valencia player. aft er chaotic season pain are bidding to become the said. on fi re, with four goals in Bilbao’s aston- “I know it is not usual for a player of my fi rst nation to win three succes- “Neither Diego Costa nor anyone else ishing 5-1 aggregate defeat of Barcelona age to be recalled to the national team,” Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini said on Monday he was sive Euro titles, though manager is ruled out...We are a bit worried about in the Spanish Super Cup. Aduriz said Monday. preparing to sell the Serie A club after a chaotic season which has Vicente del Bosque is not sure his behaviour.” Last week, he put away the vital away “I am very grateful for this. Now I am seen six coaches sit on the bench, one of them twice. Sabout who should lead his attack at this Del Bosque has also discarded veterans goal in Valencia that took Bilbao into the just going to do the best that I can to help The 75-year-old, who has run the Sicilian club since 2002 and summer’s fi nals in France. Roberto Soldado and Alvaro Negredo, quarter-fi nals of the Europa League. the team. overseen about 35 changes of manager during that period, told Two years ago, Del Bosque raised eye- and seems distinctly underwhelmed with However, Del Bosque has not made “These are the last two games before reporters he had “other things to do.” brows by opting for the Brazil-born Diego Alvaro Morata, Paco Alcacer and Rodrigo it clear whether he really wants Aduriz the Euros so they are important, against “I’ve got two more months in Italian football and then I’m leav- Costa at the World Cup in Brazil, ahead of Moreno. in his team or whether he is instead just two strong teams (Italy and Romania) ing,” said Zamparini, who has employed several coaches more fading veterans David Villa and Fernando In his desperate search for an eff ective bowing to popular pressure. that looked good in the qualifying stages. than once, occasionally reappointing them weeks after their Torres. attack leader, Del Bosque has called up “He is in the squad by popular demand “Spain has some very good forwards sacking. “Football has worn me out,” he added. “I’ll be happy if the This experiment has failed, with Costa Athletic Bilbao’s ageless Aritz Aduriz in- and because he has earned it,” Vicente del and I wouldn’t like to say that I am the new owners are from Palermo.” scoring just one goal in 10 appearances stead - for only the second time, and six Bosque said rather ambivalently. best one. But I don’t think that age is Palermo have dropped into the relegation zone after an astonish- for La Roja. In addition, his poor behav- years after his fi rst nomination. “We called him up in 2010. He is now important. What is important is the ing last few months which have led to diff ering figures on exactly iour in England while playing for Chelsea The 35-year-old is in the best form scoring a lot of goals and he deserves motivation that one has, and I have a lot how many coaches they have employed. has disappointed Del Bosque who has left of his long career, having scored 17 this.” of that.”

SOLUTION Kickoff times key for Serie A recovery: Inter CEO

Reuters broadcasters like the late kickoff , he said he that 190 million of Inter’s estimated 250 million ger and to do that, you need to raise the revenues Milan found that a “little diffi cult to believe”. supporters were in Asia. and the way we are going to do that is with inter- “What the broadcasters want is a great prod- Inter won a Champions League, Serie A and national revenues. uct and they’re not going to get a great product Coppa Italia treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010 “You could then distribute the revenue in erie A’s recent decline has been variously when there are empty seats,” he said. but years of lavish spending left them struggling a way that would mean all the teams could af- attributed to the Italian economy, de- “The best product is the Bundesliga or Pre- to fulﬁ l UEFA’s break-even Financial Fair Play ford great players and you would then have great crepit stadiums, eccentric owners, and mier League where the stadiums are sold out, rules when they were introduced in the 2014-15 football played at every game.” violent and racist fans. Inter Milan chief and neither the Bundesliga nor the Premier season. Inter’s problems include the city-owned San executiveS Mike Bolingbroke believes that League regularly play games at 8:45 in the In November 2013, a consortium led by Indo- Siro, which they share with rivals AC Milan and there is another, seemingly trivial, reason while evening.” nesian business tycoon Thohir bought a 70 per- badly needs modernisation. the Italian league has fallen behind its English Worst of all, he says, it is a dreadful time for cent stake in the club and has since been picking “Everybody recognises that it can’t stay as it and German counterparts: kickoff times. Asian viewers, the very people he believes can up the pieces and rebuilding. is,” said Bolingbroke. “It needs investment, it Bolingbroke says that the habit of start- help pull Serie A out of the doldrums and put it Bolingbroke recognises that Inter relies on needs renovation, but it has a fantastic brand... ing some matches at 8:45 pm leads to a triple back on a level footing with the other top Euro- Serie A becoming great again before the club can Bernabeu, Nou Camp and San Siro, those are whammy of half-empty stadiums, a poor televi- pean leagues. follow suit, a process which centres around the stadiums people talk about in one breath.” sion spectacle and, most crucially of all, lower distribution of television revenues. He said Inter had ruled out following the Ju- sales to Asian markets. INTERNATIONAL REVENUES One of the reasons the Premier League was so ventus example of building their own arena, and “It’s a disaster for the league,” he told Reuters “We’ve got swathes and swathes of people in successful was that television money was more would instead concentrate on redeveloping the in an interview. Asia who would love to see our games at times evenly distributed, he said. 90-year-old ground, which has already under- Bolingbroke, who as right-hand man to club that are appropriate for them, and a mid-af- “But it’s not about giving all the clubs a larger gone two major renovations. president Erick Thohir is responsible for try- ternoon kickoff here is an evening kickoff in slice of the cake because the cake is only a cer- “The key is to fill the stadium; you want to ing to restore Inter’s position among Europe’s Asia. tain size and that means other clubs have to give have a product where people have their noses elite clubs, said the ﬁ rst problem was that, par- “You won’t get kids going, so if the kids are at “(A mid-afternoon kick-off ) is a perfect time some money up, which of course would be us,” pressed against the glass, where you’ve got ticularly on a Sunday, late kickoff s keep families home, the parents have to be at home,” he said. for Asian fans to watch the game and that would he said. to get a ticket early because they sell out,” he away. Although Bolingbroke has been told that drive up international revenues,” he said, adding “The way around that is to make the cake big- said. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT NHL Spurs stung as Predators beat Kings Lin leads Hornets’

Nashville Predators players celebrate after beating Los Angeles Kings.

MCT ably the two best defensemen in stunning fi ghtback Nashville the NHL. In other words, it could be an interesting fi rst-round playoff ‘He comes in and he works so hard. You’re going to get his best eff ort every night. he Los Angeles Kings series ... only with not a lot of have done the San Jose goal-scoring. He obviously came in and picked our energy up tonight, in both halves’ thing, played the St. As much as the Predators’ cele- Louis Blues plenty in the bration Monday was about center Tplayoff s in recent years and, fur- Mike Fisher’s 1,000th NHL game ther back, engaged the Edmon- - and he scored a determined ton Oilers and Calgary Flames in goal, converting his own rebound the postseason. - there were stellar eff orts by Ryan Never the Nashville Predators. Johansen, who had a goal and two Could this be the year? assists, and James Neal, who had a There are three weeks re- goal and an assist. maining in the regular sea- The Kings clinched a playoff son and with the teams tightly spot on Saturday and looked fa- bunched, several potential sce- tigued. narios are still viable. If Mon- Quick kept them in it, stop- day night served as a trailer for a ping a couple of breakaways possible Kings-Predators play- before it all went haywire in the off matchup, expect a tightly second period. contested series. “The second period wasn’t Nashville scored three sec- good at all,” said Kings center ond-period goals and held off a Anze Kopitar, who had two as- determined third-period surge sists and is on a seven-game by the Kings in a 5-2 victory at point streak. Bridgestone Arena. “There’s not one thing we did It was the Kings’ fi rst loss in good, except for Quickie’s play.” fi ve games and their fi rst in regu- Among other things, the lation since March 5. Predators’ stingy defense posed The previous two meetings problems. between the teams went to over- Kings coach Darryl Sutter re- time, the Kings winning both. placed Quick with Jhonas En- But the Predators have lost only roth for the third period, hoping three times in regulation since for a spark, and the Kings scored Feb 4, and two of the losses were twice. to the league-leading Washing- “I thought we had a decent fi rst ton Capitals. period,” said Sutter. “The second Nashville has a star goalie period we turned the puck over a (Pekka Rinne) with 30 wins and little bit and gave them odd-man Rinne is on a 10-1-2 run, and the rushes. Our forwards had trouble Kings can counter with their All- getting to the net against their Star goalie, Jonathan Quick, who defense. Most of our chances has 37 victories. came up top from our defense. The Kings have a Norris Tro- That’s the way it goes.” phy contender in defenseman Drew Doughty and the Predators Results have their own dynamic young defenseman in Roman Josi. Panthers 2 Rangers 4 In fact, Washington coach Flyers 4 Islanders 1 Jeremy Lin #7 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts after making a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. Barry Trotz, who once coached Flames 2 Maple Leafs 5 Josi in Nashville, said recently Kings 2 Predators 5 AFP “He obviously came in and picked our Results when the bench failed to ram home the that Josi and Doughty were prob- Los Angeles energy up tonight, in both halves. He was advantage built up in the fi rst quarter. the catalyst.” Spurs 88 Hornets 91 “In the second quarter, I thought our The victory saw the Hornets improve 76ers 75 Pacers 91 second team was basically out to lunch,” NFL eremy Lin inspired a stunning to 40-30, easing the sting of a disap- Nuggets 91 Cavaliers 124 Popovich said. “It was one-on-one, fi ghtback as the Charlotte Hornets pointing home defeat to the Denver Nug- Bucks 91 Pistons 92 turnovers, gave up 29 points in the quar- rallied from a 23-point defi cit to gets at the weekend. Magic 96 Celtics 107 ter. That sealed the fate right there.” upset the San Antonio Spurs 91- “We just turned it up,” Lin said. “I can’t Kings 102 Bulls 109 Moving touchbacks 88J on Monday. even think, man. We just played hard. I’m Wizards 117 Hawks 102 DUBS BOUNCE BACK Lin drained 29 points including four just thankful to God. I’ve been struggling Warriors 109 Timberwolves 104 While the Spurs slumped, Golden State three-pointers as the Hornets shocked so much and we lost one the other night Grizzlies 103 Suns 97 recovered from their weekend defeat to the 25, might the in-form Spurs, who were brought that we felt we shouldn’t have lost, so to with a 109-104 win against the Minne- crashing back down to earth two days come out here and get this win is a huge sota Timberwolves. after beating the all-conquering Golden boost for us.” team candid advice as he attempted to Stephen Curry had a modest night by mean more kickoff State Warriors. rally them after their disastrous fi rst his standards, but still contributed 19 Lin’s points haul included a superb fal- ‘PLEASE TRY HARDER’ quarter. points as the Warriors moved to 63-7 laway jump shot with 48.4 seconds left The Spurs looked to be racing away to a “I told them, ‘Please try harder, — just 10 wins away from setting a new returns, not fewer which gave the Hornets the lead at 89- blowout win after leading 28-7 after the please,’” Cliff ord said. “’I’m begging you, record for the best regular season in NBA 88 before adding two free throws with fi rst quarter. please. I know you make more money history. MCT because you don’t want to give 18.3 seconds on the clock to complete the But Lin added 12 points in the second than me, I know most of you could get me Draymond Green was the star for the Boca Raton, Florida anyone the ball at the 25.” scoring. to chip away at the Spurs’ lead. Charlotte fi red. I’m just saying please, so I can sleep Warriors, scoring 24 points as the visitors “They’re going to get the re- “He’s a very committed player,” Hor- then took the lead for the fi rst time at 75- on the plane tonight, please just try a lit- overturned a three-point defi cit with verse of what they want,” an- nets coach Steve Cliff ord said. “He comes 74 with 9:10 remaining after a Lin three- tle bit harder.’” six minutes remaining to avoid suff er- here has been more buzz other coordinator said. “There’s in and he works so hard. You’re going to pointer. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich blamed ing their fi rst back-to-back losses of the about the NFL competi- way too much diff erence in field get his best eff ort every night. Cliff ord joked that he had given his the defeat for a sloppy second quarter season. tion committee’s recom- position.” mendation to make two If a coverage team can tackle a unsportsmanlike-conductT pen- returner at the 15-yard line, that BOTTOMLINE alties by the same player in the leaves 10 more yards the team has same game an automatic ejec- to go to the end zone from the tion, but that situation is rarely touchback point _ or another fi rst going to arise. down, the way coaches look at it. However, the committee’s Falcons President Rich McKay, proposal to move touchbacks the head of the competition to the 25-yard line from the 20 committee, believes otherwise Cavs clinch Central Division will have a far greater impact if and said the NFL studied the the rule change is passed today NCAA, which moved touchbacks morning at the NFL’s annual to the 25 in 2012. meetings. “We will obviously look at it The eff ect might be the opposite if the rule were to pass,” McKay title with win over Nuggets of what the committee is aiming said Monday. “But we asked col- for. It could lead to more kickoff leges and they really like the 25- MCT “I think a 50-win season in “We’re still growing, we’re still returns, which the NFL has been yard line and they have not seen Cleveland this league, it’s not every year getting better on a night-to- aiming to reduce since 2011 when anyone decide that they would you can do that,” Cavs coach Ty- night basis and we can celebrate kickoff s were moved from the 30- rather mortar kick than have a ronn Lue said. “It just shows the this, but we gotta keep moving yard line to the 35 with the goal to touchback, because on a mor- t’s not the title they ulti- hard work the guys have put in to forward.” increase touchbacks. tar kick you still run the risk of a mately want, but it’s a start. get to this point.” Nikola Jokic and Gary Har- Giving the off ense the ball return. So in our mind this was a LeBron James had 33 The Cavs built a 19-point ris each scored 11 points for the on the 25 on a touchback could good change for us.” points, 11 rebounds and lead in the fi rst quarter Mon- Nuggets, whose starters totaled lead to kickoff teams trying more College kickers are not nearly I11 assists and the Cavaliers day before the bench gave it all 33 points - the same fi gure James “mortar” kicks with distance as skilled as NFL kickers, and the clinched the Central Division back in the second. The Nuggets totalled by himself. sacrifi ced for hang time. Two sense is the professionals will be with a 124-91 victory Monday scored 17 consecutive points in The Cavs changed up their veteran special teams coordina- able to direct high kicks to come night against the Denver Nug- the second while the Cavs went defensive schemes Monday, re- tors told the Tribune they believe down in the vicinity of the goal gets. It’s the fi fth division title scoreless for more than six min- verting back to a simpler two- it will lead more teams to instruct line. Bears kicker Robbie Gould in team history and also marked utes. Will Barton scored 16 of his on-two pick-and-roll defense the kickers to get as much hang might be particularly good at their ninth 50-win season while team-high 27 points in the sec- that worked well for them last time as possible while landing that, and directional kicking has serving as James’ second triple- ond quarter for the Nuggets. season and earlier this season. the ball near the goal line in an been a big part of the team’s phi- double of the season and the 41st The Cavs led by as many as 36 They held the Nuggets to 40 eff ort to cover a kick and pin the losophy on special teams. of his career. in the fourth after trailing by as percent shooting as a result. off ense inside the 25 or even in- “The kickoff is a play that we Channing Frye scored 14 many as 33 in Saturday’s embar- James has been part of four of side the 20. continue to look at, and we think points as a replacement for rassing loss at Miami. That’s the the fi ve division titles in team his- “Return teams are looking for this is a good change that moti- Kevin Love, who did not play way it has been all season for the tory and six of the nine 50-win reasons to come out (of the end vates teams to make good deci- because he was ill. J.R. Smith Cavs, who despite their incon- seasons. He was terrifi c through- zone),” one coordinator said. sions on when they are going scored 15 points and Matthew sistencies still hold the top seed out Monday, scoring 17 of the “And kickoff teams are going to to bring the ball out and when Dellavedova had 10 points and in the Eastern Conference with team’s 38 points to stake them hit the ball to the goal line and they are not,” McKay said. “By seven assists off the bench. Kyrie three weeks left in the regular to the big lead. It was the most hope to tackle the returner inside putting it on the 25-yard line, Irving had eight points and three Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) calls a play against season. points the Cavs have scored in a the 20. You watch, they’re going we think that motivates them to assists. the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter. “All is not bad,” Lue said. fi rst quarter this season. to get more returns this season make good decisions.” Gulf Times Wednesday, March 23, 2016 9 SPORT

RUGBY INJURY Wallabies’ Speight out for two months Coach Jones tells Reuters “He’s remaining positive and Sydney will be doing everything he can to get back on the fi eld as soon as possible.” allabies winger Speight’s injury also looks Henry Speight will likely to rule him out of all but be sidelined for up the fi nal two rounds of the World to two months due Sevens series in Paris and Lon- England to make Wto a bone fracture above his eye don in May, a major blow to his socket, which could derail his hopes of proving he could adapt chances of playing for Australia’s to the shorter game. rugby sevens side at the Rio Ol- The 27-year-old made his ympics. World Series debut in Dubai last The Fiji-born back suff ered December and also featured in the injury, which may require the inaugural Sydney Sevens in surgery, when he clashed heads early February. history in Australia with team mate Christian Leali- Larkham said the Brumbies ifano during the ACT Brumbies’ already had contingencies in Super Rugby loss to the Stormers place to replace Speight after he ‘It’s time to make the history books look a little better! If I didn’t think it was possible in Cape Town on Saturday. decided to have a go at making “It’s a shame to lose Henry, he’s the Australia sevens team for the to take a squad of players over to Australia and win, I shouldn’t be coaching the side’ obviously a world-class winger,” Olympics. Brumbies head coach Stephen Winger Lausii Taliauli will join AFP Larkham said in a news release. the squad in South Africa, while London “At this stage it looks like outside backs Nigel Ah Wong, he may be out for eight weeks, Robbie Coleman and James Dar- which would be around the gaville were already available to ngland head coach Eddie Jones same time we take on the Rebels Larkham for Saturday’s match on Monday challenged his Grand in Round 12, but we will have to against the Cheetahs in Bloem- Slam-winning players to “re- wait for further advice. fontein. write history” and become the fiE rst England team to win a Test series in Australia. BEYOND BORDERS But the former Wallabies head coach also issued a warning to his Paris heroes that no-one is guaranteed a place on board the fl ight in June unless “they carry NFL exploring the on improving and are mentally ready for the next step up”. Jones has fi xed his ambitious sights on possibility of regular developing the team he guided to Eng- land’s fi rst Six Nations clean sweep in 13 years into a force capable of upsetting game in China Australia in their own back yard in June. Celebrations following Saturday’s he National Football “It’s fascinating to think Grand Slam-sealing victory over France League is studying the about,” New York Giants quickly came to an end as England’s play- possibility of expanding co-owner Steve Tisch said. ers returned to their clubs for the fi nal its international series to “It’s very exciting, very months of the season before contemplat- Ta new frontier by staging a regu- exotic to think about. But ing the clashes with the Wallabies. lar season game in China, reports if we do get to a point where It will be the fi rst time the two nations said Monday. the NFL plays a game in have done battle in a three-Test series A report on the NFL’s offi cial China, the logistics are in Australia and Jones, who was Walla- website said the league was going to be interesting” bies head coach between 2001 and 2005, looking at the possibility of knows all too well the enormity of the taking the sport to the world’s Three games in London will be task ahead. most populous nation with a held this season, including one England have won just three of the 17 game held in 2018. at the home of English rugby, Tests played there between the sides, one A possible game in Germany Twickenham. of which was the 2003 World Cup fi nal, was also being considered. Last month, NFL and have generally had a miserable time China has been on the NFL’s commissioner Roger Goodell of it Down Under. radar before, with tentative plans confi rmed that Mexico City “Perhaps it’s time to improve on that to host a game in 2007 and 2009. would host a regular season game record. It’s time to make the history Those proposals never came to between the Oakland Raiders and books look a little better!” said Jones, fruition, however. the Houston Texans at the iconic whose side face Michael Cheika’s men in “It’s fascinating to think Azteca Stadium on November 21. Tests to be held in Brisbane, Melbourne about,” New York Giants co- The NFL staged a game in and Sydney. File picture of England rugby Head Coach Eddie Jones during a interview. owner Steve Tisch told ESPN on Mexico City in 2005, when a “If I didn’t think it was possible to take a Monday at the NFL team owners crowd of 103,467 saw the Arizona squad of players over to Australia and win a back from what happened in 2007 to win grabs in the team. They have done well in “But seriously, people there are happy meeting in Florida. “It’s very Cardinals beat the San Francisco series, I shouldn’t be coaching the national two World Cups in eight years? the Six Nations, but they must now con- that England are doing well again and exciting, very exotic to think 49ers. side. There will be no excuses. We have so “Because the likes of Richie McCaw tinue improving as players.” heading in the right direction. World about. But if we do get to a point “We’re going back to Mexico, many fi ne players to choose from. and the rest wanted to keep improving Jones intends to take “32 or 33” players rugby is better off for having a strong where the NFL plays a game in and London has been very “It just comes down to whether we and they did. to face the Wallabies, declaring that he is England team. China, the logistics are going to successful, and we’re trying to have enough desire and talent to do it. “The players have gone back to their still on the lookout for “new guys to come “The one thing I do know is Australia be interesting.” introduce the NFL to more of And I can assure you we certainly do have clubs and if I was one of them I’d be so in and liven up the squad” between now go into every contest expecting to win. So The prospect of a game in China the world, and of course that’s those things.” excited about the prospect of playing and the end of May. I expect the same with this England team.” comes as American football chiefs the largest population of any some crucial games for their clubs with He is relishing the months ahead and Jones intends to retain the help of Jon- seek to broaden the international country, in China,” Houston ‘EXPECTING TO WIN’ the chance of proving they deserve to be says that friends back home are taking a ny Wilkinson as kicking coach, meaning fan base of the sport. Texans owner Bob McNair was He added: “To win a Grand Slam must on the plane to Australia for a fantastic keen interest in England’s progress. that the man whose drop-goal won Eng- Regular season matches have quoted as saying by ESPN. just be the start. To keep improving is Test tour. “I’ve had some texts and emails from land the 2003 World Cup could be per- been held in London for several “They’ve expressed interest, now the big challenge ahead. Why do “But no-one is guaranteed a place back in Australia that have been, let’s say, suaded to accompany the squad on the years, with games taking place at so I suspect, yeah, we’ll have a you think New Zealand were able to come in the squad. There are 15 places up for quite interesting,” he smiled. plane to Australia. Wembley Stadium. game over there.”

BOTTOMLINE Amir Khan has no respect for me, I want to Brook says stabbing in Tenerife two weeks aft er he won IBF welterweight title ‘changed how I look at life’ but that altered world destroy him, says Kell Brook view still includes a showdown with Khan

Donald McRae, The Guardian Brook looks up. “It’s been a roller- badly. “I did underestimate Jones and it hate each other - but such venom is London coaster. It’s been mad. I needed my were a Gypsy warning, a big wake-up rarely true of fi ghters. “I don’t want family around me to get through that call. I lay in hospital, thinking: ‘This is him hurt,” Brook says of Khan. “We’re dark time. It’s defi nitely changed me a game where you can legally get killed both from Britain and fi ghting away ell Brook fi nally answers his because, coming out of hospital, it felt if you’ve not done everything right.’ from home, against these Americans phone. Of course he is not at like a new world. I felt the breeze and That’s why I’m working hard for Bizier.” and Mexicans, I want Khan to win. If home. The world champion is heard the birds singing. I saw the sand Khan, inevitably, still hangs over he does - fantastic. I’m not praying he where he should be only days and I was thinking: ‘These small things Brook. Did he believe their fi ght was gets splattered. But when it comes to Kfrom his latest title defence, against the in life are so precious.’ It’s changed how about to happen? “Absolutely. It was me and him, in this country, I want to anonymous Canadian Kevin Bizier on I look at life, how I look at my kids. It close. But you saw him on Twitter. He destroy him. He’s got no respect for me Saturday in Sheffi eld . had a big eff ect on me - because I was was talking like he were the champion.” and I’ve come up the hard way.” Brook is toiling away in the gym close to death.” Unlike Brook, Khan does not hold a “Now, Lindsey, me and our two girls in downbeat old Wincobank. This is We have hardly spoken about Bizier world title. But Brook’s camp alleged live in the best area of Sheffi eld. Our Brendan Ingle’s famous boxing shrine and the challenge the Canadian may Khan was demanding 80% of the com- oldest daughter [aged four] is so far where he shaped Herol Graham, Na- present on Saturday. He nods when I bined purse. “The Khan kid has delu- ahead of where Lindsey and I were as seem Hamed and little Kell Brook . say the only fact I really know about Bi- sions. But we weren’t getting dictated to kids. We want the best for the girls. The St Thomas’ is deserted now and zier is that his two defeats were against when we are the world champion. I’ll take best areas, the best schools. Brook soon cuts to the heart of his life Jo Jo Dan - another Canadian-based care of the mandatory [challenge of Bi- “When I come back from the gym I and describes how elation was swal- fi ghter whom Brook stopped in four zier] and that will free up some big fi ghts. can’t believe I’m driving up those roads lowed up by despair. “I can’t really ex- rounds last year. It must be hard to mo- “I want Khan but I think his demands to my house. plain how high the feeling was winning tivate himself against Bizier rather than were a way of avoiding the fi ght. He sees “ As a kid, mum and dad would take that world title in California with my Khan or their American rivals? it as too much of a risk. He’s gone for me to the Toby Carvery for a treat and family watching me,” Brook says. Brook “It’s not a huge fi ght,” Brook admits, Canelo. Even if he loses he can say that we’d drive past these big houses with had become only the second British “and it has been hard getting up for it. big weight diff erence was the factor. So I high walls and cameras. I always said I fi ghter to depose a world champion in Bizier has not got the Shawn Porter understand why he took the fi ght because want to live there one day. I do now - the US. Lloyd Honeyghan had made factor, the Keith Thurman factor, the there’s also a big pot of money. but I deserve it. I suff er in the gym eve- history when shocking Donald Curry Danny García factor. He doesn’t spread “When it fi rst got announced I ry day. I’ve got the black eye to prove it.” in 1986. Brook’s defeat of the unbeat- each other and they were saying: ‘You’ve erife in September 2014 , just over two the fear of those American guys. You thought there’s no chance he can beat Brook grins as he gestures to his en Shawn Porter felt as seismic to the done it, son, you’ve done it.’ weeks after he won his world title, need that fear - thinking this guy is a Canelo. But now I think he could do bruised face and imagines the riches of a Sheffi eld man. Brook pauses, his face clouding. seeps through Brook again. machine coming for me. They make well. If he listens to his coach and fol- fi ght against Khan. “I have a huge house “My mum and dad remembered me as “Then, soon after that, came the dark- “It was nearly a week before we fi - you train hard. But Bizier has desire and lows the precedent of how to beat surrounded by luxury but I’ve earned it. a little kid, with teeth missing,” he says. est time, a time when I didn’t think I nally got hold of someone, a doctor, he will be hungry. I learned that lesson Canelo - given in the Floyd Mayweath- That house is beautiful but it’s not quite “I had been to the gym and told them was going to live. I didn’t think I was who could speak decent English. He against Carson Jones.” er fi ght [which Álvarez lost widely] - champion. I have my eyes on something I’d become a world champion. So when going to walk again. I remember laying said: ‘I believe you will make a 100% Brook’s toughest fi ght, when he al- Khan could do well. I still think Canelo better - the perfect champion’s house. I became the king of the welterweights I on a hospital bed in Tenerife and it was recovery.’ Plain as day now I can see my most lost to Jones, was in July 2012 . He wins. He’s a proud Mexican who will One of those even better houses with the can’t put into words the feeling of seeing shocking.” mum and dad in that hospital room. We eventually won a majority decision but fi nd a way and nail this Khan kid at big gates opening up, the long drive, the my mum and dad upset with joy, seeing The shock of being stabbed so badly were so emotional, thinking: ‘We’ve got he spent much of that night in a Shef- some point.” even bigger mansion. It’s out there - and my partner, Lindsey. We were looking at while on holiday with Lindsey in Ten- another crack.’” fi eld hospital after his nose was broken The hype implies the British rivals I will get it.” Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Russian doping scandal spreads to wrestling

Reuters Mikhail Mamiashvili said. me, I will leave my post,” R- drive to prove itself compliant team’s chances of competing Moscow The disclosure came a day af- Sport news agency quoted him with international anti-doping at the Rio Games, Mamiashvili ter four Russian athletes were as saying. standards. Mamiashvili said two said: “It may happen that simply exposed as having tested positive Russian sport was thrown male wrestlers, 2014 world none of us go.” ussia’s sports minister for the banned drug meldonium, into turmoil last year when a re- championship silver medallist Meldonium, which is used to said yesterday he was further damaging Moscow’s ef- port by the World Anti-Doping Evgeny Saleev and 2015 World treat diabetes and low magnesi- prepared to resign over forts to overturn a doping sus- Agency (WADA) exposed en- Cup silver medallist Sergei Se- um levels, was banned by WADA a raging doping scan- pension in time for the Olympics demic cheating and corruption menov, had been caught using on January 1 after being linked dalR in his country which could starting in Rio de Janeiro on Au- in Russian athletics. meldonium. to increased sporting perform- cost more Russian athletes their gust 5. Russian athletes have been But he said the sport’s doping ance. It is particularly popular places at the Rio Olympics after Russian President Vladimir suspended from international problem was widespread. in Russia and the former Soviet “tens” more cases of cheating Putin said yesterday his sports competition and will miss the “There are tens of positive Union, having been invented in were exposed in wrestling. minister, Vitaly Mutko, would Olympics if the country cannot tests in the team, everyone is in Latvia and used to help Soviet Russian wrestlers may now remain in his position despite get the ban overturned—a hu- a bad condition psychologically,” soldiers fi ght at high altitude in join the country’s track-and- the scandal. Mutko later said, miliating blow to the pride and Mamiashvili told R-Sport. the 1980s. fi eld athletes in being barred however, that he was prepared prestige of a sporting super- No female Russia wrestlers R-Sport reported on Monday from competing at the Games in to end his eight years in the job if power. have tested positive for meldo- that around 40 Russian ath- August, after an internal Russian asked to do so. Since then, at least 18 Rus- nium, R-Sport reported. The letes from more than 10 diff er- Wrestling Federation (WFR) in- “The country has a leadership sian sportsmen and women WFR declined to comment. ent sports had tested positive vestigation uncovered multiple who take these decisions. When have tested positive for mel- Talking to the state-owned for meldonium in the fi rst two doping cases, WFR president I see that the matter concerns donium, complicating Russia’s TASS news agency about his months of 2016. Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko.

CYCLING FOCUS Kenya unlikely to beat April WADA Bouhanni wins 2nd deadline: Legislator

Reuters Eldoret, Kenya

enya is unlikely to beat the April 5 deadline set by World stage in Catalonia Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to put in place laws needed to make it “code-compliant”, a Kenyan legislator who is playing a key role in the process said yesterday. ‘I went to see the doctor early in the race, I had a bad stomach’ KKenya faces the threat of being ruled non-compliant with the WADA code and, although that could eventually lead to sanctions, the IAAF said this month that it is highly unlikely the distance Agencies remains second overall, 14 seconds running powerhouse would be suspended from this year’s Olym- Olot, Spain back on the Frenchman. French rider Nacer Bouhanni celebrates on pic Games. The team worked hard in the clos- the podium aft er winning the second stage of Wesley Korir, who has drafted a bill proscribing doping in the ing stages and were prevalent at the the Tour of Catalonia race in Olot. (AFP) east African nation which has been hit by a wave of drug trans- n-form French sprinter Nacer front of the bunch as the riders head- gressions, said Kenyan authorities may seek an extension to the Bouhanni claimed his second ed towards the fi nish in Olot, with Ian deadline to be able to complete the legislative process. straight stage win in the Tour of Boswell, Vasil Kiryienka and Nicolas “The Bill has not been brought to Parliament as we are speaking Catalonia on Tuesday after his Roche all putting in big stints. and even if it is brought today, we cannot complete the process in ICofi dis team set him up perfectly in The 178km stage had always looked two days because we shall be going on recess on Friday and return- a bunch sprint. destined to end in a bunch sprint, ing on April 6,” Korir told Reuters in this North Rift Valley town, a Bouhanni was released by his lead- and the day’s four-man break never centre of excellence for distance running, on Tuesday. out train 250 metres from home and built a substantial lead. After the fi - Korir, who won the Boston marathon in 2012, said Parliament’s crossed the line a bike length clear of nal intermediate sprint the break was Committee for Labour, Social Welfare and Sports had summoned Belgian duo Gianni Meersman and reduced to three, before Thomas De the Minister for Sport last week to impress upon him the impor- Philippe Gilbert, who wore black Gendtaunched a solo attack 25km tance of the process. armbands in honour of the victims from the line. “We also wanted to discuss how to merge the two bills, but he of bomb attacks in the Belgian capital He extended his gap to almost did not show up,” said Korir, a Member of Parliament for Cheran- Brussels earlier in the day. a minute but the peloton quickly gany Constituency in the North Rift, said before boarding a plane Bouhanni extended his overall lead caught the Belgian and with 15km left to the capital. He said the parliamentary committee had adopted after the 178km second stage be- the expected bunch fi nish was on. his Bill, but was awaiting the one drafted by the Ministry’s con- tween Mataro and Olot, but expects The race hotted up inside the fi nal sultants and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). to give it up as the race heads into the few kilometres with a small descent Korir’s Bill has diff erent penalties to the one drafted by a gov- mountains today. stringing the peloton out, but Bou- ernment agency, capping fi nes for off enders at 3 million Kenyan It was a fourth win of the season hanni remained calm and collected to shillings ($30,000) compared with ADAK’s proposed One mil- for the 25-year-old Frenchman who secure back-to-back wins. lion. National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) Chairman also won a stage of the Tour of Anda- Today’s third stage over 172km Kipchoge Keino called for government intervention to salvage the lusia and another on the Paris-Nice, fi nishes at altitude (1725m) at the situation. “I am requesting the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) to in- although he revealed he’d been feel- Pyrenean ski resort of La Molina and tervene in this matter to save the future of the youths of this coun- ing off -colour going into the stage. features four category one climbs. try. These people (Ministry of Sport) don’t seem to care about the “I went to see the doctor early in Results after the second stage future of our youth,” Keino, winner of gold medals at the 1968 and the race, I had a bad stomach,” said Stage 1972 Olympics, said. the up-and-coming sprinter. “I’ll 1. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/COF) 4:3;10s ADAK CEO Japhter Rugut said last week the Bill was ready and have to clench my teeth in the moun- 2. Gianni Meersman (BEL/ETI) same was only awaiting ratifi cation of a few aspects by WADA. tains, I hope it’s okay tomorrow. time Kenya failed to meet the fi rst deadline of Feb. 11 to prove it was “There are a couple more stages 3. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/BMC) st 4. doing enough to tackle doping. About 40 Kenyan athletes have which may come down to a sprint,” he Alexei Tsatevich (RUS/KAT) s.t. failed drugs tests in recent years. The country has set up its own said. After a four-man break includ- 5. Carlos Barbero (ESP/CJR) s.t., 6. national anti-doping agency and WADA said on Feb. 11 it had put ing Belgium’s Thomas De Gendt failed Kiel Reijnen (USA/TRE) s.t., Kenya on probation, adding that there was still a lot of work to do. to open a lead any greater than three 7. E Gasparotto (ITA/WGG) s.t. minutes, largely thanks to Cofi dis 8. Jonas Van Genechten (BEL/IAM) keeping them within sight, the sec- s.t. ond stage was at the mercy of Cofi dis’ 9. Pawel Franzak (POL/VAT) s.t., 10. well-disciplined sprint train. Kévin Reza (FRA/FDJ) s.t. Overall race favourites including Overall standings climb specialists Chris Froome, Al- 1. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/COF) berto Contador, Nairo Quintana and 9:07;41s Fabio Aru are all loitering 20 seconds 2. Ben Swift (GBR/SKY) at 14sec, 3. adrift. In a fast last fi ve kilometres Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 14 the duo moved to the front of the 4. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) 16 peloton and stayed high up in the 5. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/BMC) 16, bunch as race leader Bouhanni won 6. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ETI) 16, his second sprint in as many days. 7. Louis Vervaeke (BEL/LOT) 17, Ben Swift, who fi nished second 8. Javier Moreno (ESP/MOV) 18, 9. R behind Bouhanni on day one, was Fernandez (ESP/MOV) 19 unable to fully launch his sprint but 10. A Tsatevich (RUS/KAT) 20.

TABLE TENNIS Xu Xin hopes to win in Qatar for fourth time

ITTF fi nal expense of colleague, Wang Notably in 1998 he beat Swe- Doha Hao, before regaining the crown den’s Jan-Ove Waldner in the fi - in 2014 when he accounted for nal, before on each of the next two Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih- occasions, accounting for Korea’s inner in Kuwait two Yuan in the gold medal contest. Kim Taeksoo to claim gold. days ago, Zhang Jike The burning question is can Xu Meanwhile, Wang Liqin won alongside his Chi- Xin make it one more and become in 2005 and 2006, beating col- nese National Team the most successful male ever league, Ma Lin, in the fi nal on Wcolleagues Ma Long, Xu Xin and in the history of the ITTF World both occasions, before regaining Fan Zhendong are all on duty at Tour Qatar Open. the title in 2010 when he over- the ITTF World Tour Qatar Open Currently he stands alongside came Zhang Jike to claim the top beginning today at the Al Sadd Croatia’s Zoran Primorac and his prize. Pertinently, it is the only Club. Once again they occupy the now retired compatriot, Wang Li- occasion when Zhang Jike has top four seeded positions in the qin, as players who have won the reached the Men’s Singles fi nal Men’s Singles event. Men’s Singles title on three occa- in Qatar. It is a feat Fan Zhendong Ma Long is the top seed, with sions. has yet to achieve. Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin and Zhang Primorac, now 47 years old, Vladimir Samsonov, the no.8 Jike being the next in line. who was due to compete this year seed, meanwhile hopes to be Of the four, Xu Xin has won but has been forced to withdraw three-time winner. the Men’s Singles titles on no less owing to a knee injury, won on One year ago he beat Germa- than three occasions. He won in three consecutive occasions. He ny’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the fi - 2011 when he beat Germany’s won in 1998, 1999 and in 2001; nal to claim the title, having won Timo Boll in the fi nal; he retained the tournament was not held in it earlier in 2003 at the expense of the title the following year at the 2000. Russia’s Alexey Smirnov. Table tennis players train at the Al Sadd Sports Club yesterday. Gulf Times Wednesday, March 23, 2016 11 SPORT

TENNIS Tournament chief Moore quits in gender storm

Reuters eff orts toward equality. “Nearly half this sport,” he said. ing and made in poor taste, as Ray has Indian Wells a century ago, Billie Jean King began When reaction to his remarks ﬂ ood- subsequently acknowledged,” ATP her historic campaign for the equal ed in, the former ATP Tour player Executive Chairman and President treatment of women in tennis,” Elli- quickly off ered an apology but the Chris Kermode said in a statement on aymond Moore has stepped son said. “What followed is an ongo- damage had already been done. Moore Monday. Kermode also said the ATP, down as CEO and tourna- ing, multi-generational, progressive had only taken over as tournament di- the governing body for men’s tennis, ment director of the Indian movement to treat women and men in rector late last year when Steve Simon supports equality across society but Wells BNP Paribas Open sports equally. “I’m proud to say that resigned to become chief executive of acknowledged that it operates in the followingR comments he made about it is now a decade long tradition at our the WTA Tour. Simon said yesterday sports and entertainment business. women’s tennis in a move welcomed tournament at Indian Wells, and all that Moore stepping down was the “The ATP seeks to achieve fair com- by the women’s tour. the major tennis tournaments, to pay right decision. pensation for its players by setting Moore provoked outrage at the equal prize money to both the women “The BNP Paribas Open has sup- minimum prize money levels for ATP weekend when he said top-level wom- and the men.” ported the payment of equal prize events in accordance with the rev- en’s players rode “on the coattails of Among his comments, the 69-year- money to all players since 2009,” he enues that are generated from men’s the men” and were “very, very lucky” old South African also highlighted said. “The WTA looks forward to professional tennis,” said Kermode. to have equal prize money. Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and working with Mr Ellison and the In- “The ATP also respects the right of The tennis world reacted strongly Spaniard Garbine Muguruza as being dian Wells team on continued eff orts tournaments to make their own deci- as world number one Serena Williams among the “very attractive prospects” in making the sport better and equal sions relating to prize money for wom- and all-time great Martina Navratilova on the WTA circuit, before explaining for all players.” en’s tennis, which is run as a separate rebuff ed the statements and the ATP that they were “physically attractive The ATP denounced Moore’s dis- Tour.” men’s tour formally denounced them. and competitively attractive”. paraging comments about female Men and women’s players receive Tournament owner Larry Ellison re- “If I was a lady player, I’d go down players while saying tournaments equal prize money at each of the year’s vealed the departure with a statement every night on my knees and thank should decide how much to pay four grand slam tournaments, some that both announced Moore’s resig- God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal women. “Ray Moore’s comments to- $75 million, where both genders share Indian Wells Tennis Garden CEO Raymond Moore (L) presenting the second place nation and championed the sport’s were born, because they have carried wards women’s tennis were disparag- the spotlight. trophy to Serena Williams of USA after the final of the BNP Paribas Open. (AFP)

GOLF/ WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH PLAY Equal prize money defended as Miami Open begins Top tennis bosses defended prize money equality for men and women as turmoil continued across the tennis scene ahead of Tuesday’s McIlroy seeks winning start of the ATP and WTA Miami Open. World number one Serena Williams, a loser in back-to- back finals for the first time since 2004, seeks a fourth consecutive Miami crown and ninth overall while top-ranked edge for Masters Novak Djokovic seeks his sixth Miami title and a record 28th ATP Masters crown. ‘I’ve been saying all along since the start of the year, I’d love to win before Augusta and this is my last chance’ But equal prize money for men and women remained an issue in the wake of disparag- AFP ing comments about women’s Austin RORY MCILROY tennis Sunday by Indian Wells tournament director Ray- mond Moore, who resigned efending champion Monday night in the wake of Rory McIlroy is deter- harsh reactions to his critique. mined to get back to Djokovic subsequently fanned winning ways at the the flames of controversy by WorldD Golf Championship Dell suggesting that the disparity Match Play this week, his fi - in pay was justified. nal tune-up event before next “What a mess,” tweeted wom- month’s Masters in Augusta. en’s tennis legend Martina The Northern Irishman has Navratilova. “Moore totally suff ered fl uctuating form this blew it and Novak—really?” year, slipping to number three in “It was really disheartening to the world rankings after a Jekyll see Ray Moore off er the ex- and Hyde performance at the tremely prejudiced and very Arnold Palmer Invitational last old-fashioned statements week. The 26-year-old shot 75- regarding women tennis play- 67-75-65 at the Arnold Palmer, ers,” she told the BBC. a frustrating inconsistency that “We have made it this far on McIlroy attributed to mental our own, without help from chinks in his normally formida- male players, and will con- ble armour. tinue to do so in the future.” “The good stuff is there, I just WTA Tour chief executive need to eradicate the bad stuff ,” Steve Simon on Sunday McIlroy said. “It’s nothing to do called Moore’s comments with me technically. It’s more “extremely disappointing and mental.” alarming” and added, Speaking after arriving in Tex- “The WTA stands on its own as for this week’s event in Aus- and was founded on the tin, McIlroy said he was anxious principles of equality and to get a victory under his belt empowerment.” leading into the Masters. Top seeds Williams and “It is important. I’ve been say- Djokovic and stars Roger Fe- ing all along since the start of the derer, Rafael Nadal and Andy year, I’d love to win before Au- Murray were among those gusta and this is my last chance the better of Thomas to help his ton Kizzire (USA) whose first match dates were to do that,” he told reporters. Texas Longorns beat Alabama to Group 5 Adam Scott of Australia talks with the media before a practice unveiled Monday by Miami “And seeing the guys that have the title. Rickie Fowler (USA) An Byeong- round for the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play at Open organisers. Seeds have won ... everyone is running in Spieth, who went on to be- Hun (KOR) Scott Piercy (USA) Austin Country Club in Austin yesterday. (Getty Images/AFP) first-round byes. good form. And they’re all good come world number one and Jason Dufner (USA) US star Williams will open champions, a few of them are won two majors last year, plays Group 6 Thursday afternoon against Masters champions. Thomas on Friday and will also Adam Scott (AUS) Bill Haas Japan’s Misaki Doi or Ameri- “Everyone is playing well, and face Frenchman Victor Dubuis- (USA) Chris Wood (ENG) Thomas can Christina McHale while that’s really what you want to son and Jamie Donaldson of Pieters (GER) Serbia’s Djokovic opens do. You want your game round- Wales. Adam Scott, who has Group 7 Friday night against either ing into form and playing to the already won twice this year, is Justin Rose (ENG) Matt Kuchar Britain’s Kyle Edmund or best of your abilities this time of grouped with Bill Haas, Chris (USA) Anirban Lahiri (IND) Czech Jiri Vesely. year.” Wood and Thomas Pieters, while Fabian Gomez (ARG) Argentina’s Juan Martin Del McIlroy won a memorable US Ryder Cup duo Dustin John- Group 8 Potro, the 2009 US Open victory at last year’s WGC Match son and Jimmy Walker have been Dustin Johnson (USA) Jimmy winner, faces countryman Play when it was staged in San drawn together. Walker (USA) Kiradech Aphib- Guido Pella on Wednesday Francisco, and believes he is not European Ryder Cup stan- arnrat (THA) Robert Streb (USA) with Swiss third seed Federer far off his best form as he pre- douts Sergio Garcia and Lee Group 9 to face the winner Friday pares for this week’s event at Westwood will fi ght to escape Patrick Reed (USA) Phil Mickel- afternoon. Austin Country Club. Group 13, while Phil Mickelson son (USA) Matthew Fitzpatrick Two-time Miami champion “I feel like I’m close. I haven’t and Patrick Reed are in Group 9 (ENG) Daniel Berger (USA) Andy Murray, the second seed had the confi dence of getting a and long-hitters Bubba Watson Group 10 from Britain, opens Saturday win this year, but I feel like it’s and J.B. Holmes doing battle in Danny Willett (USA) Brooks afternoon against either close. And this would obviously Group 4. Koepka (USA) Billy Horschel Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan be a great week to get that win or Australia’s Jason Day, riding (USA) Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) or Borna Coric of Croatia, at least get close to that win, if I high after last weekend’s victory Group 11 while Spanish fifth seed Nadal can get a few really good matches at the Arnold Palmer Invitation- Branden Grace (RSA) Russell meets either Bosnian Damir under my belt and progress to al, faces a tricky group featuring Knoc (SCO) David Lingmerth Dzumhur or Argentina’s Leon- the weekend and play some good England’s Paul Casey, Thailand’s (SWE) Chris Kirk (USA) ardo Mayer. golf, I feel that’s all I need confi - Thongchai Jaidee and Northern Group 12 Play opens Tuesday with 12 dence-wise going into Augusta.” Ireland’s Ryder Cup star Graeme Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) Kevin first-round WTA matches This week’s tournament will McDowell. Kisner (USA) Soren Kjeldsen while Murray, the 2009 and feature an unusual format, with (DEN) Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 2013 winner who lost to 16 groups of four players con- Draw for the group stage Group 13 Djokovic in last year’s final, testing a round robin phase be- Group 1 Sergio Garcia (ESP) Marc Leish- will enjoy another day of fore advancing to a knockout. Jordan Spieth (USA) Justin man (AUS) Ryan Moore (USA) practice and family time at his McIlroy was drawn to face Thomas (USA) Victor Dubuisson Lee Westwood (ENG) US “home” event. Smylie Kaufman, Kevin Na (FRA) Jamie Donaldson (WAL) Group 14 Wife Kim and newborn and Thorbjorn Olesen. World Group 2 Zach Johnson (USA) Shane daughter Sophia are at their number one Jordan Spieth Jason Day (AUS) Paul Casey Lowry (IRL) Martin Kaymer nearby home. meanwhile was drawn against (ENG) Thongchai Jaidee (THA) (GER) Marcus Fraser (AUS) “I spend a few months a Justin Thomas, Victor Dubuis- Graeme McDowell (NIR) Group 15 year in Miami for my train- son of France and Welshman Group 3 Brandt Snedeker (USA) Charl ing blocks and my place is Jamie Donaldson. Rory McIlroy (NIR) Kevin Na Schwartzel (RSA) Danny Lee only half an hour from Key The two played together as (USA) Smylie Kaufman (USA) (NZL) Charley Hoff man (USA) Biscayne, so this tournament US teammates at the 2007 Evian Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) Group 16 is as close as it gets to home Junior Masters but went head to Group 4 Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) Andy when I’m stateside,” Murray head in the 2012 NCAA Cham- Bubba Watson (USA) JB Holmes Sullivan (ENG) Bernd Wiesberg- said on his website. pionship fi nal, where Spieth got (USA) Emiliano Grillo (ARG) Pat- er (AUT) Matt Jones (AUS).

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

RALLYING FOCUS Qatar Airways to sponsor Beach Polo Edith expecting Cup in Dubai

atar Airways will double brand message – Going Places up as sponsor of Team Together.” Qatar Airways as well as Gaby Katiela, Tournament and the offi cial airline spon- Event Director of Beach Polo Cup no favours from sorQ of the Beach Polo Cup Dubai Dubai at Mamemo Productions, from 2016 through to 2018, it was commented: “Each year the Beach announced yesterday. Polo Cup Dubai attracts the local, Held under the patronage of regional and international polo His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin community to Dubai for a signa- Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum ture showcase of our beach vari- for a second consecutive year, the ation of the Sport of Kings. The Beach Polo Cup Dubai will take event provides an opportunity for male drivers place 1-2 April and brings together existing polo fans and those new to polo enthusiasts from around the the sport to watch the polo players ‘This will be my third attempt at the Kuwait Rally’ world, together with a host of ce- in a luxurious and premium envi- lebrities who all come to partici- ronment. We are delighted to have pate in this exciting spectacle. the world’s fastest growing airline Qatar Airways Senior Vice on board as an offi cial sponsor.” President, Marketing and Cor- Qatar Airways off ers up to 200 porate Communications, Salam weekly fl ights to the United Arab al-Shawa, commented: “The Emirates, including the recently State of Qatar’s 2030 vision en- launched four-weekly service to courages the participation in a Ras Al Khaimah, alongside; 105 variety of sporting activities and fl ights a week to Dubai Interna- as the national airline of Qatar, tional Airport; 28 fl ights a week to we align ourselves to this vision as Dubai Al Maktoum International well. Sport – the world over – is Airport; 42 fl ights a week to Abu celebrated as a means of bring- Dhabi; and 21 fl ights a week to ing people together, and through Sharjah. supporting key events such as These services highlight the the Beach Polo Cup Dubai, whose level of demand for business and fans fl y in from the around the leisure pursuits in United Arab world to enjoy the event, we are Emirates, enhancing access to able to showcase the sentiment of events such as the Beach Polo Cup togetherness within our own new Dubai.

SQUASH Al-Tamimi makes Qatar Circuit fi nal

Edith Weiss (R) at the finish of last year’s Kuwait International Rally.

By Our Correspondent players cannot cope with the power of a wait International Rally being hosted by and arrived in Doha just a few hours late Fintas, Kuwait man’s service game and the speed and the Basil Salem Al-Sabah Motor Racing for me to start. It was very annoying. I lost By Sports Reporter ing Malaysian Ivan Yuen, seeded power of a man would be too much for a Club (BMRC) this weekend by any means, important points for the championship. Doha fi fth, in a hard-fought 3-2 score- woman in a football or rugby match. but she is hoping to fi nish inside the top 10 Now is the time for me to get the points line. After taking the fi rst game allying in the Middle East may in- There are no such handicaps or ad- and reach the top fi ve in the competitive back, here in Kuwait!” via tie-break 12-10, Fathi saw a volve sweat, dust and stamina to vantages given to women in world motor NR4 class. The southern deserts of Kuwait have atar’s Abdulla Mo- spirited counter-attack from the deal with the punishing heat and sport, however, and Weiss and new Ger- “This will be my third attempt at the been aff ected by changeable weather con- hamed al-Tamimi Malaysian, who took the next rigours of racing across desert man navigator Anne Stein will line their Kuwait Rally,” enthused Weiss. “Last ditions in recent days and strong winds stormed into the fi nal two games 4-11, 8-11. But it was Rterrain at high speeds, but it is not just the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX up at the year, Kuwait was one of the best events and light rain was prevalent in some areas of the Qatar Circuit all Fathi thereafter, as he took domain of male drivers. start of the three-day event expecting no in terms of preparation and organisation on Monday. But the forecast for the week- QIII yesterday, being played at the next two games 11-6, 11-9 Edith Weiss is a case in point and, when favours from their illustrious male rivals. and I really enjoyed it. I fi nished second end is for more stable and warmer weather the Khalifa International Ten- to end the one-hour 34-minute the German lady takes the start of the Ku- Women have broken through the ranks in the Group N section and eighth overall. and there appears to be no risk of rain on nis and Squash Complex. The energy-sapping battle and set up wait International Rally - round two of the in motor sport across the world before: The event has very nice, fast stages and the special stages. third-seeded al-Tamimi had too a title clash with home favourite 2016 FIA Middle East Rally Championship French lady Michèle Mouton was one of they are smoother than some of the other Competitors complete their two-day much power and guile for his al-Tamimi. - tomorrow afternoon, she will be com- the most talented stars of her generation rounds of the championship, so there is reconnaissance of the desert special stages seventh-seeded Egyptian op- Results (Semi-finals) peting on an equal footing with the fi nest in the Group B era of world rallying and less risk of a fl at tyre or damage to the car. I today and then all eyes will be focused on ponent, Mazen Gamal, winning 1-Karim Ali Fathi (Egypt) beat male drivers in the Middle East and run- Norwegian Marit Stromoy became the say a special thanks to Sheikh Athbi Nayef the pre-event press conference, the cer- 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-2) in just 26 5-Ivan Yuen (Malaysia) 3-2 (12-10, ning on a Qatari competition licence. fi rst woman in history to win a round of Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah for his eff orts to emonial start and the opening special minutes. 4-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9) Female golfers compete from diff erent the UIM F1 H20 World Championship for bring the event back to the championship. stage at 15.30hrs, 16.30hrs and 18.00hrs, Another Egyptian lies in wait 3-Abdulla Mohd al-Tamimi (Qa- tees and hit balls shorter distances than powerboats in the UAE last December. “My year started badly. My car got stuck respectively, at the Sirbb circuit, near Ku- for the Qatari in the fi nal today. tar) beat 7-Mazen Gamal (Egypt) their male counterparts, female tennis Weiss is not expecting to win the Ku- on the Saudi border before the Qatar Rally wait City, tomorrow afternoon. Top seed Karim Ali Fathi beat ris- 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-2)

BOTTOMLINE Qatar boxing chief Yusuf al-Kazim inaugurates AAYC offi ce in Harare

By Sports Reporter The AAYC brings together youths from the Doha Africa and Arab nations to exchange notes on various empowerment and education pro- grammes as well as many other social issues atar Boxing Federation president Yu- linked to unhealthy living. There are 17 Arab and suf al-Kazim inaugurated the regional African countries which are part of the AAYC offi ce of the Afro-Arab Youth Council which is headquartered in Sudanese capital (AAYC), a body brought together more Khartoum. thanQ a decade ago to empower youth through “AAYC was established in 2004 in Khartoum sports. Several executives from member coun- and has a membership of about 60 youth or- tries featured at the inauguration ceremony ganisations from Africa and the Arab world,” al- in Harare where al-Kazim delivered a keynote Kazim, who is president of AAYC, said during speech. his speech in Harare. “The council is working in Al-Kazim said the AAYC members have cho- the areas of training, education, environment, sen to locate the headquarters in Harare after combating illegal immigration, unemployment considering the country’s strategic position in and religious extremism,” al-Kazim said. the region. “The Executive Committee of the Council shall be elected every four years by the General The Council during its current session, Conference, which includes all member organi- which began in August 2014 was able to sations and observers from international and open six Coordination bodies in Chad, regional organisations,” he added. Lebanon, Austria, Algeria, Senegal and The Council during its current session, which Zimbabwe. The other two Coordination began in August 2014 was able to open six Co- bodies will be launched during this year ordination bodies in Chad, Lebanon, Austria, Algeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe. The other two Representative of South Sudan, Philip Coordination bodies will be launched during Lawrance Ajok, said the setting up of the coun- this year. cil’s headquarters in Zimbabwe is expected to “The opening of the Coordinating Body of boost its youth empowerment activities in the South Africa in Zimbabwe aims to communicate region and Africa. Zimbabwe’s representative with youth organisations in South Africa and Misheck Gondo said the new headquarters is encourage them to join the family of the young expected to institute various youth empower- Arab and African Council in order to achieve the ment exchange programme among the member ambitions and aspirations of young people in states. this important region,” he said.