IT’S GREAT TO WIN THE $9 MILLION but I just don’t want to lose to him and give him the satisfaction because the bragging rights are what is going to be even “worse than the money,”

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES," FEDERER SAID, REVEALING THAT HE THOUGHT HIS GROIN SP RTS strain had ended his chances. "There could be rain, there could be all kinds of stuff. O 08 29 January 2020 Misbah admits Pakistan’s shortcomings despite Bangladesh triumph KARACHI :The Pakistan head PSL will be very important for us. coach-cum-chief selector admit- The hitters who were in the team ted that the team needed to work previously couldn't perform that on its deficiencies well. We then brought Khushdil Pakistan’s head coach-cum- and Iftikhar in the team. We have chief selector Misbahul Haq has these options,” he said. admitted that Pakistan are lagging "The point of looking at PSL behind in some aspects of their is that you get to see the per- game, despite their recently con- formances and you can analyse cluded Twenty20 International where players fit in and where (T20I) series win over Bangladesh we need players in the team. Then on home soil. we grind further in the matches "You play to win and you try we will play, then decide on the to perform as well as you can be- squad. In domestic cricket, there cause it's important to give your- is lesser pressure. In PSL, at some self breathing space. But we have level you can say that with me- to still look at the shortcomings dia and international players, the in the team and where we need standard comes a bit closer to in- to strengthen. Under pressure, ternational cricket. The tempera- you keep running after things and ment of a player can be checked sometimes it's difficult to catch up. there and then finally, the require- So it's good for the team and for ment of the team. Then you can me, and for the young players that pick the player and ready them,” we have a confidence booster and he added.The former Pakistan cap- we can relax a bit and think about tain also shed light on the team’s the future,” said Misbah. selection policy and brushed aside “We will keep everything in the notion that he was against the mind when we are making a team inclusion of senior players in the for the T20 World Cup. Obviously, squad. ENGLAND THUMP SA TO WIN SERIES 3-1 CAPE TOWN : Ben Stokes and Mark In the next over man-of-the-match But Stokes bowled a ball which With tea looming, England set a ished with two for 47. Wood made a double strike shortly Wood dismissed Rassie van der hit a crack and kept low, deflecting field which suggested a short-pitched De Kock and Bavuma batted bright- before tea, breaking stubborn South Dussen for 98. He went on to claim off the toe of Du Plessis' bat into the barrage was likely. But Wood then ly in a fifth wicket stand of 48 before African resistance and setting up four for 54 to finish with match fig- stumps.Van der Dussen looked set for bowled a full-length delivery which Broad bowled a vicious bouncer which a 191-run win for England on the ures of nine for 100. a maiden Test century but in the next Van der Dussen drove awkwardly to Bavuma gloved to wicketkeeper Jos fourth day of the fourth and final Test Quinton de Kock and Temba Ba- over he fell to Wood two short of the short cover where Stuart Broad held a Buttler. Broad had Dwaine Pretorius at the Wanderers Stadium on Mon- vuma shone briefly but South Africa landmark. good diving catch. caught at fine leg in his next over day. were bowled out for 274. He had batted impressively, hitting It was the second wicket for Stokes and the rest followed.Vernon Philan- The win clinched a 3-1 series vic- Van der Dussen and Du Ples- 15 fours and two sixes in a 133-ball –- both which came at crucial times der, playing in his last Test, struck a tory for England. sis batted for all but 13 minutes of innings but both he and Du Plessis shortly before an interval. His first vic- couple of beefy blows before falling Set to make a world record 466 to an extended two-and-a-half hour were given a torrid time by Wood, tim was opening batsman Dean Elgar, to Wood who supplied the coup de win, South Africa reached 181 for two afternoon session to give South Af- bowling at express pace on a pitch who was caught and bowled playing grace, another lifting ball flicking An- before Stokes bowled home captain rica some hope, making the England where the bounce was gradually be- an awkward pull shot in the penulti- rich Nortje's glove on its way through Faf du Plessis for 35. bowlers toil on a hot afternoon. coming more unpredictable. mate over before lunch. Stokes fin- to Buttler down the legside. Tokyo prepares foreigners for potential disasters Federer saves seven match Series victory in SA a points in 'miracle' escape TOKYO (REUTERS): Tokyo 2020 organisers are putting the final touches to preparations less than six months out from the start of the Olympics gling physically, saved three match but the area they are most concerned about remains readiness for any template for Ashes: Root points at 4-5 in the fourth set and natural disaster striking during the Games. four more in the tie-breaker to win With thousands of foreigners expected to descend on Tokyo for the 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 and July 24 to Aug. 9 event, organisers are acutely aware of the need to pro- slightly similar,” he said referring to set up a clash against either title- vide clear instructions in English and raise awareness of what to do in the series that will begin in Novem- holder Novak Djokovic or Milos case of an earthquake or tsunami. ber 2021. Raonic. On Tuesday, over 200 of Tokyo’s approximately 570,000 foreign resi- “We have got to look to keep get- Federer received a rare warn- dents gathered at Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, which will stage events ting better and keep developing. We ing for an audible obscenity before during the Olympics, to run through drills aimed at making them more still feel the sky is the limit for this going off-court for treatment on disaster-savvy. team and that we’ve got to keep look- a groin injury in the third set, but As well as testing earthquake simulators, the participants were also ing to improve. still looked hampered as he forced taught how to use fire extinguishers, walk through smoke-filled rooms, “We’ve obviously performed a fifth set against the big-serving phone the police in case of emergency and even what exercises to do if extremely well in these last three American. stuck in an evacuation shelter. games but as a side, over the last cou- "I believe in miracles," Federer Japan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to typhoons ple of years, we’ve not been consis- said, revealing that he thought his and earthquakes, and experiences an average of 1,500 temblors a year, tent enough. We are very open about groin strain had ended his chances. although few cause any damage, let alone loss of life. that and we have an opportunity now "There could be rain, there could However, experts believe there is a 70% chance of a major earthquake to build on this tour.” be all kinds of stuff. striking the Japanese capital in the next 30 years. England are next in Sri Lanka in "(I thought) just let him finish Because of this, the foreign residents welcomed all the advice they March and then host the West Indies me off in style, and he didn't do could get. and Pakistan later this year. that. I'm incredibly lucky tonight, “For the Japanese government to hold an event like this, it really helps Root said the six home tests will today -- I don't even know what foreigners like me because kids in Japan are already taught in school but give the team an opportunity to time it is." we have no idea,” said Vietnamese student Hoa Nguyen, who has lived string together positive performanc- Sandgren, achingly close to be- in Japan for over a year. es in completely different conditions. coming the lowest-ranked player Over 30 interpreters, speaking six different languages, were on hand “We’ll try not to look too far ahead to beat Federer at the Australian to help the participants, who hailed from 44 countries. but we’ve got a great template to Open, can count himself unlucky “I actually think it is amazing the effort they tell you ... to prepare, pre- CAPE TOWN : The series win over After failing to prise back the Ash- work around and it’s nice to see it especially after a ball girl acciden- pare, prepare because it is easy to go through daily life and not worry South Africa had given England a es last year, when they drew 2-2 in falling into place,” he said. tally collided with him during the about it,” said Rodrigo Coronel, the Nicaraguan ambassador to Japan. template for the next Ashes series, the five test series at home, Root said The England captain said one of LONDON: Swiss great Roger Feder- pivotal tie-breaker, which he lost. “So, the Tokyo government has done a fantastic job with these kinds of captain Joe Root said after another the win in South Africa provided a the most satisfying aspects of the er said that "I believe in miracles" Federer has made heavy weath- events.”Last year, Tokyo 2020 organisers held an earthquake drill at the emphatic test win on Monday. timely boost. South African series was that they after he saved seven match points er of reaching his 46th Major semi- Ariake Gymnastics Centre, a newly built venue for the Olympics, as part England’s team, with a mix of ex- “There is a huge amount of test took the full haul of 20 opposition in a five-set nail-biter against final. He was two points from de- of their growing contingency plan ahead of the Games. perience and promising youngsters, cricket still to be played between wickets in all four tests. 100th-ranked Tennys Sandgren to feat by John Millman in a fifth-set Olympics organisers will also want to learn from the Rugby World Cup beat South Africa by 191 runs in the now and then but it gives us con- “That’s something have struggled labour into the Australian Open tie-breaker in round three, and last year, when a powerful typhoon struck, prompting the unprecedent- fourth test on Monday to complete a fidence and knowledge of how to with in the past when we’ve been semi-finals on Tuesday. dropped a set against 67th-ranked ed cancellation of three matches. 3-1 series triumph. perform on wickets that might be abroad.” The six-time champion, strug- Marton Fucsovics in round four.

LONDON: Premier League leaders Liv- use his senior stars for that match be- field Wednesday. face Premier League opposition at erpool will face Chelsea in the FA Cup cause he doesn’t want to deny them a Manchester United will visit Fratton Park after being drawn against fifth round if Jurgen Klopp’s understud- much-needed rest. the winners of the replay between Bournemouth or Arsenal. ies win their replay against Shrewsbury. To earn a trip to Stamford Bridge, Northampton and Derby, who feature Southampton or Tottenham will Third-tier Shrewsbury fought back Liverpool may play the youngsters former United star Wayne Rooney in play host to struggling Norwich, while to draw 2-2 with Liverpool on Sun- who were beaten by Aston Villa in the their squad.Oxford’s reward for a re- either Coventry or Birmingham face a CHELSEA HANDED POTENTIAL LIVERPOOL CLASH IN FA CUP

day, earning a replay at Anfield that League Cup quarter-finals while the play victory over top-flight Newcastle short trip to Leicester. falls during the Premier League winter Reds were at the Club World Cup. would be a trip to Championship lead- Championship sides Reading and break. FA Cup holders Manchester City have ers West Brom. Cardiff will battle it out in a replay for Reds boss Klopp insists he will not been given a trip to second-tier Shef- League One side Portsmouth will the chance to host Sheffield United.