44 Friday

Sports Friday, May 11, 2018 Ireland and Pakistan Test revives World Cup memories Ireland will be huge underdogs

DUBLIN: Ireland will be huge underdogs when room the next morning. they face Pakistan in their inaugural men’s Test Ireland dismissed Pakistan for a meagre 132 match at Malahide today. But several members with fast bowler Boyd Rankin-set to be involved of their squad already know what it’s like to in the Test-taking three wickets. Ireland were cause a huge upset against Pakistan, having soon 15 for two before an innings of 72 from played in the Ireland side that knocked the Asian Niall O’Brien, also in the Test squad, got them giants out of the 2007 World Cup in the back on track before now-retired Trent Caribbean with a stunning three-wicket win in Johnston won the match with a six off Azhar Jamaica. Mahmood. It was the stuff of fairytales with Ireland, a ‘SOMETHING team of part-timers con- SPECIAL’ taining school teachers, “It was the start of farmers and postmen It was the start something special,” defeating the Asian gi- Johnston told The42.ie ants-and on St Patrick’s of something website. “The start of an File photo shows Pakistan (left) and Ireland teams in action. Day as well. One of the special amazing journey and a few green-tinged day when the rest of the pitches in the West In- world sat up and took lose,” he added. Irish joy was quickly tempered rights in the subcontinent. dies, and thereby remi- notice of us as a - by widespread mourning for Woolmer, whose The ICC, as much a club for its leading mem- niscent of surfaces at home in Ireland, was ing nation.” sudden death gave rise to a host of wild conspir- bers as a global governing body, soon decided a matched by fans wearing Irish green shirts in a Ireland’s victory came just 48 hours after they acy theories. repeat had to be avoided at all costs. That out- jubilant crowd at Kingston’s Sabina Park. had exceeded many people’s expectations by Although no one knew it at the time, Ire- look has led to next year’s World Cup in England The fairytale soon became a nightmare, how- playing out a tie with another Test side in Zim- land’s win perversely damaged the cause of as- being shrunk to a 10-team event, with an all- ever, when Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, the for- babwe. “I was lucky I won that toss,” said John- piring cricket nations. Pakistan and arch-rivals play-all group stage. mer England batsman who in his previous ston, who was also rightly proud of the “bloody India were both knocked out in the first round, Ireland, however, will not be there after miss- development role with the International Cricket good cricket,” Ireland played against Pakistan. a huge blow to organisers banking on their fans ing out in a 10-team qualifying tournament Council had done much to raise the standard of “We were a bunch of amateurs going to a to pack out grounds later on, as well as broad- where only Afghanistan and the West Indies non-Test nations, was found dead in his hotel World Cup and we had absolutely nothing to casters who had paid heavily for television made it through to the finals. — AFP

Australian skipper

Pakistan, has coached a number of denies Warner rift UAE coach small professional clubs in the UAE for years. SYDNEY: Australian skipper Tim Paine yesterday denied The ICC said the suspension was a divisive figure widely disliked within suspended comes after Ansari failed to provide the team, insisting he would be welcomed back after his requested information to group’s ban for a cheating scandal. Disgraced former vice-cap- over spot anti-corruption wing on two sepa- tain Warner is serving a year-long suspension for his part rate occasions. The charges centre in the plan to use sandpaper to tamper with the ball dur- on Sarfraz’s admission to the Pak- ing the third Test in in March. fixing offer istan Cricket Board and the ICC that He was considered the mastermind of the scandal that Ansari had approached him about KARACHI: United Arab Emirates rocked the sport and also saw former captain spot fixing during the one-day series based coach Irfan Ansari was sus- and batsman suspended. Respected between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in pended following allegations from News Corp cricket writer Robert Craddock this week the UAE last October. Spot-fixing Pakistan’s captain Sarfraz Ahmed questioned whether Warner could fit back into a team involves determining the outcome of that he was approached to partici- under the leadership of new coach given a specific part of a match rather than pate in a spot fixing scheme, Crick- “half the players can’t stand him”. But Paine said the Tim Paine the overall result, and is therefore cet’s administrative body said comments were “off the mark” and “really unfair”. “I cer- harder to detect than match-fixing. yesterday. tainly like Craddock’s writing and when he’s on TV I’m a Ansari will now have two weeks The International Cricket Coun- fan of his,” Paine told reporters in in his first press the tampering scandal, has said he would welcome to respond to the charges. “The ICC cil (ICC) said Ansari was charged conference since officially being made one-day and Test Warner back, but only if the meets his behavioural stan- will not make any further comment with three counts of breaching the skipper. dards. Paine said he had been in touch with all suspended in respect of these charges at this body’s anti-corruption code. “But I thought he was a little bit off the mark there and players. “All three are certainly going to be welcomed stage,” said the body in a statement. “Ansari has been provisionally sus- really unfair on David Warner as a person and as a crick- back into our team, if they’re prepared to toe the line with The PCB took extra measures to pended with immediate effect and eter.” He said while Warner’s competitiveness might our new brand of cricket, which I know they will,” he said. stem spot-fixing, with all six teams has been charged for directly solic- sometimes “rub the opposition up the wrong way,” he “I know they’ll all do the right thing and score enough in this year’s league monitored by iting, inducing, enticing or encour- was well received within the Australian camp. “Within runs to be back in our side and they’ll be certainly be wel- anti-corruption officers. Pakistan aging a participant to breach the our team he’s someone with that energy and that com- comed back.” Speaking to SEN radio this week, Crad- has a history of fixing cases, the lat- code and for failure or refusal to co- petitiveness who we love playing with,” he said. dock claimed some in the team had contacted Cricket est being last year’s scandal which operate with the anti-corruption “There’s a side of David that people don’t know which Australia saying they didn’t want to play with Warner rocked the Pakistan Super League unit’s investigation,” said an ICC re- is a really loyal, really caring and a good team man to have again. “If (Langer) wants cultural shift, how do you have held in UAE. — AFP lease. Ansari, who is originally from around.” Langer, who was appointed this month to re- cultural shift and Warner in the same team? That’s my place who quit as coach in the wake of question,” he said. — AFP