THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 SPORTS

Ghost of football past stalks abandoned Ukraine arena

DONETSK: In its halcyon days, the told AFP in an empty sports bar nearby. In June 2012 the stadium basked in inevitably Shakhtar Donetsk and its sta- rebel move saw the remaining financ- Donbass Arena in eastern Ukraine was a “It was our football mecca where we all the international spotlight as it hosted dium were impacted as well. In May ing from Akhmetov dry up and the staff gleaming temple to football, welcom- met together,” the 50-year-old grey- the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres 2014 the club halted matches at its sta- who were still there to maintain the sta- ing some of the sport’s biggest names haired fan lamented. Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez as Spain dium as international organisations dium dwindle. Now the venue is yet through its portals. But while star play- The 52,000-seat venue was state-of- beat Portugal on penalties in the semi- demanded game stop in a war zone another monument to the ruinous ers are now lining up in the the-art when it opened in 2009, back final of the Euros championship. and the club upped sticks definitively impact of Ukraine’s conflict. Confederations Cup tournament across when the city of Donetsk was another and shifted its home base away from Luckily the stadium’s glass front has the border in Russia, the Arena is wast- place. The former Soviet mining hub REBEL SEIZURE the city. While the footballers moved largely survived the shelling that pock- ing away. Seized by insurgents waging was undergoing a mini-boom as local- But that high point would soon turn out, Akhmetov-who has been accused marked much of Donetsk. But while the a bloody three-year conflict against boy-made-good Rinat Akhmetov out to be a bittersweet memory for of playing off both sides in east Moscow-backed rebel leadership claims Kiev, the venue is in a state of pitiful ploughed huge sums into the city. Ukrainian football fans. Under two Ukraine’s murky conflict-trod a fine line they want to start using the arena again decline. Akhmetov, a metals tycoon who rose to years later Donetsk and the surround- as he tried to maintain control over his they have not said how they would The stands which once echoed to become the richest person in Ukraine, ing region plunged dramatically into stadium. fund it or set any timeframe. the chants and cheers of miners and had turned local club Shakhtar into bloodshed that almost no one saw A charity he runs began using the For now the venue-like much of the their families are long deserted. The champions and decided to splash some coming. After the February 2014 ouster venue as a distribution point for aid to rest of the insurgent-held lands- once-hallowed turf has turned a sickly $400 million (350 million euros) on of Ukraine’s Kremlin-backed leader by the hard hit residents of the rebel-con- remains trapped in a limbo of depres- yellow in parts. The floodlights died building the team a fitting new home. protesters in Kiev, Moscow seized the trolled city. But eventually even that sion and uncertainty. long ago, and the shop that showcased He hired the top designers behind Crimea region and was then accused of tenuous link was severed and in March And with the conflict in east Ukraine the merchandise of host club Shakhtar Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and the masterminding a rebellion that this year the rebels officially took over showing little sign of coming to a con- Donetsk is empty. “It is very sad that we “Bird’s Nest” stadium in Beijing and got engulfed the east of the country. As the arena as they seized a string of clusion it looks like there is no chance are no longer able to get to the stadi- megastar Beyonce to sing at a glitzy the conflict-which has now claimed Akhmetov’s properties in a dispute over that crowds of fans or international um,” local supporter Yury Zhavoronkov unveiling. some 10,000 lives-worsened, so a trade blockade of their territory. The stars will be back any time soon. — AFP

PREVIEW S Lanka eye redemption against

COLOMBO: are looking to pick STRUGGLING ZIMBABWE themselves up as the series against The minister-Dayasiri Jayasekera-had Zimbabwe begins this week in Galle after a accused Sri Lankan players of being too fat string of poor performances prompted after the team failed to reach the their coach to quit. leads Champions Trophy semi-finals in England. the Sri Lankans who take on Zimbabwe in Malinga, who returned from injury to the first of five one-day internationals on the 50-over side in England, struggled and Friday as they look to get over their first- took only three in three matches. round exit in the Champions Trophy. The islanders have just won five of their South African Graham Ford quit as 20 one-day games since August 2016 with coach last week with assistant Nic Pothas two coming against hosts Zimbabwe dur- taking over in an interim capacity for the ing a tri-nation series triumph in clashes against Zimbabwe, whose tour will November. end with a single Test match next month in Zimbabwe, on their first tour of Sri . Ford’s exit just 15 months into Lanka since 2001-2002, are led by and are trying to build momentum as they look ahead to the World Cup quali- fying tournament in April next year. The African nation has slipped to 11th, a place above bottom-ranked Ireland, in the International Conference ODI rank- ings. They lost a five-match series at home to Afghanistan 3-2 in February. Star player , who has played only one of Zimbabwe’s five one-day games this year, is expected to bolster the line- up on tricky Sri Lankan pitches. Cremer’s leg-spin, off-spinner and left-arm bowler Sean Williams will lead the spin attack on surfaces that should turn. Coach blamed LEICESTER: England’s Natalie Sciver plays a shot against during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match at Grace Road, Leicester, Zimbabwe’s dismal form on a “lack of crick- England Tuesday. —AP et” as financial and administrative hurdles hinder progress. “The problem is the vol- CRICKET ume or the lack of cricket that we have had,” said the former . “We have got to play good competitive cricket for coun- GALLE: Zimbabwe cricketer Wellington tries to want to play against us.” Masakadza delivers a ball during a prac- The first two ODIs will be at Galle, the England beat Pakistan tice session at Galle International Cricket first limited-overs matches there in 17 Stadium in Galle yesterday. — AFP years. The remaining three games will be at the refurbished stadium in Hambantota. his four-year contract adds to Sri Lanka’s The only Test will be at the Premadasa at Women’s World Cup problems on and off the field, which are Stadium in Colombo starting July 14. hampering preparations for the 2019 World Cup. “It is beyond our control. What hap- Squads LONDON: Natalie Sciver and Heather Knight expensive in Women’s World Cup history. There was also an entertaining 50-run part- pens outside the cricket field, we don’t Sri Lanka (for first two ODIs): Angelo both scored maiden centuries as England post- Pakistan opener Ayesha Zafar was 56 nership between Danielle Wyatt (42 not out) and think a lot about it,” Mathews said on Mathews (captain), (vice ed their highest-ever Women’s World Cup total and Nain Abidi, batting at five, 23 not out when Fran Wilson (33). The form of Ayesha was a rare Tuesday. captain), Niroshan Dikwella, Danushka en route to beating Pakistan by 107 runs on the rain brought an early end to the proceedings positive for Pakistan as the opener brought up “Fordy has been fantastic, one of the Gunathilaka, , Asela Duckwo rth-Lewis-Ste rn (DLS) Method in with the scoreboard reading 107 for three in 29.2 her half-century off 67 balls. very best in the business. Sorry to see him Gunaratne, Wanidu Hasaranga, L. Sandakan, Leicester on Tuesday. overs. “It was really nice to get that It was a second defeat in as many outings for go. But, we have to move on and look , Nuwan Pradeep Fernando, Sciver hit 137 off 92 balls and captain Knight together and have a convincing win,” said Knight Pa kistan and captain Sana Mir said: “We disap- ahead to this series.” Veteran paceman , Dushmantha Chameera, scored 106 off 109 balls as England recovered after England were put into bat following a short pointed a lot of fans today. In the first game, we Lasith Malinga was this week handed a Lahiru Madushanka. from 42 for two to finish at 377 for seven in 50 rain delay. “We don’t really set targets too much, were not able to play the standard we set our- one-year suspended ban after being found Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (captain), overs, the second-highest total in competition it’s about getting as many runs as we can. selves and we did not reach those standards guilty of insulting a minister but has been , Hamilton Masakadza, Craig history behind Australia’s 412 for three in 1997. Pa kistan actually started well, we had to ride again.” The only match today sees New Zealand retained in the 13-man ODI squad. Ervine, Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Peter While the 213-run partnership equalled that out a bit, play our shots and enjoy our- take on South Af rica in Derby. All the eight The speedster has been docked 50 per- Moor, Sikandar Raza Butt, , England’s third- record stand set back in selves.” Knight struck 12 fours and two sixes in a teams involved will play each other once, with cent of his match fee from Friday’s opening Christ Mpofu, Donald Tiripano, Richard 1993, Pakistan left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu 109-ball 106, while Sciver slapped 14 fours and the top four contesting the semi-finals. The final game in Galle and is under six-month pro- Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Malcolm finished with figures of one for 82 — the most four sixes in a whirlwind 92-ball 137. takes place at Lord’s on July 23.— AFP bation after comparing the country’s sports Waller, , Tarisai minister to a “monkey”. Musakanda. — AFP Shastri to apply for Sri Lanka players told India coach job to get fit or get out NEW DELHI: Former captain Ravi Shastri announce the new coach before India will apply to become India’s head coach head to Sri Lanka in July. — AFP COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government yester- failure to reach the Champions Trophy semi- percentage over 16 will not be allowed to repre- after the national cricket board extended day warned the national cricket team to get fit in finals earlier this month. sent the country. announced the application deadline following Anil three months or get booted out. The ultimatum The typical body fat amount for a cricketer Tuesday that Malinga had apologised and also Kumble’s shock exit, reports said yester- came after the squad was found to be unfit for was 16 percent, but most Sri Lankan players had pleaded guilty to violating his contract with the day. “Yes, I have decided to apply for the the series against Zimbabwe which starts tomor- over 26 percent, Jayasekera said. board which precludes players from making job,” the cricketer-turned-television com- row. “No one has a satisfactory level of fitness, He has warned any player with a body fat public statements. — AFP mentator was quoted as saying by the but I have made an exception this time,” sports New Indian Express. minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said. Top names such as former batsman Players are selected by an independent panel Virender Sehwag and Australia’s Tom for the national team, but the sports minister Moody are already in the running for one must give final approval before they can repre- of the toughest jobs in cricket. sent the country. Shastri applied for the job last year Jayasekera said no member of the 13-man after being team director between 2014- squad met required international fitness stan- 16. Kumble was appointed instead and dards and noted that high levels of injuries were coached India to five Test series victories due to poor endurance. but resigned last week, stating his part- Only two players-Dushmantha Chameera and nership with India captain had Lahiru Madushanka - scored high marks in the become “untenable”. “yo-yo” endurance test which is mainly running Former all-rounder Shastri, 55, has against the clock, a source familiar with the been touted as a strong candidate who process told AFP. Three other fitness tests were has a good relationship with Kohli. also carried out. The new coach for the world’s number Controversial fast bowler Lasith Malinga who one Test team will be decided by a three- weighs 80 kilos (176 pounds) failed one test, the man committee made up of former India source said, and barely scraped through the rest. stars Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly He is officially under observation. and VVS Laxman. “Malinga has suffered recurring injuries partly Ganguly was reportedly key in because of the poor fitness,” the source said on Kumble being chosen over Shastri in condition of anonymity. June last year. The two former captains Malinga was slapped with a fine of 50 per have publicly rowed over the coach’s cent of his match fee for Friday’s game and given post. However Ganguly said of Shastri’s a six-month suspended match-ban for compar- renewed candidacy: “Everybody has the ing Jayasekera to a “monkey” and saying the right to apply. We will find out.” minister knew nothing about cricket. GALLE: Sri Lankan cricketer (2L) warms up with teammates during a The Board of Control for Cricket in The Sri Lankan board held an inquiry after practice session at Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle yesterday. Sri Lanka are looking India has said applications will be accept- Malinga publicly lambasted Jayasekera who had Ravi Shastri to pick themselves up as the series against Zimbabwe begins this week in Galle after a string of ed until July 9. The BCCI is aiming to said many players were too fat following their poor performances prompted their coach to quit. — AFP