SPORT Thursday 17 August 2017 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Tharanga pleads Del Potro makes Ronaldo’s appeal for patience winning return to against five-game ahead of ODIs Cincinnati Open ban rejected Qatari players train in UK ahead of World Cup qualifiers QSL Clubs play pre-season friendlies on foreign soil Doha QNA atari teams continue to play friendlies in their training camps abroad as they warm Qup for the new Qatar Stars League (QSL) sea- son, which kicks off in mid-September. Al Gharafa beat Turkish side Sapanca 4-0 on Tuesday during their camp. Moayad Hassan, Jonathan Balotelli, Amr Seraj and Thamer Jamal scored for the Qatari side. In Slovenia, Al Arabi drew 1-1 with Slovenian side Ankaran in their second friendly match of the camp. Al Arabi opened the score from the spot through Brazilian midfielder Diego Jardel in the first half but the local side drew level in the sec- Qatari national football team members take part in a training session under the watchful eyes of coach Felix Sanchez at St George’s Park in ond half. Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. Qatar played their third pre-season friendly match against Andorra yesterday. Earlier, Meanwhile, Qatar SC overcame Slovenian side they lost to Nottingham Forest 1-2 on Sunday, but managed to defeat Leeds United 2-0. The final friendly match will see Al Annabi take Rogatec 3-2 in their second friendly of the current on Turkmenistan on August 23 as they prepare for two upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Syria and China. Sanchez and his boys training camp in the European country. Ibrahim will return to Doha on September 1. Jamal scored a brace while Nigerian midfielder Michael Babatunde chipped in with the third. Gulf Challenge WI vow tough fight as England rally series postponed brace for first ‘pink ball’ Test until next year London lunch and 20 minutes for tea. The Peninsula AP The intervals were called tea and dinner during the day- he Gulf Challenge rally efore this week, Stu- nighters in Australia. series, which was art Broad only had Broad spoke of players’ Tannounced back in May one experience of needing to get the levels of food and was scheduled to start in bowling with a pink intake just right so they can September 2017, has been post- ball — and that was have the energy to last through poned until next year. Bsending down a delivery in a the evening, with play due to The decision was announced demonstration for a British TV finish at 9 p.m. local time. by Abdullah Bakhashab, the channel in June. England beat South Africa former FIA Middle East rally Today, the England pace- 3-1 in its first series of the sum- champion and promoter of the man will be playing an mer and starts as favourite Gulf Challenge, after consulta- international match with them, against the West Indies, who are tion with the respective one of a raft of new challenges England captain Joe No. 8 in the Test rankings and automobile federations and facing him and his teammates Root (left) and West have lost six straight Test series. motor sport clubs in the region. in Birmingham in their first- They are also without a number Bakhashab cited unfavoura- Indies captain Jason ever day-night Test. of key players, such as Chris ble economic conditions, which Holder pose for a picture “It’s stepping into the Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Dar- had prompted many companies unknown completely,” Broad with the series trophy ren Sammy, because of a interested in supporting the Chal- said ahead of the first of three on the eve of the first previous dispute with the West lenge to change their stances in Tests against the West Indies. day of their first Test Indies Cricket Board. recent weeks and this had neg- The unknown includes the match at Edgbaston in The teams drew 1-1 in a Test atively affected the preparations pink ball, changing sleep pat- Birmingham yesterday. series in the Caribbean in 2015. for the exciting new rally series. terns, and different mealtimes The visitors promised to give Bakhashab said: “I regret to — with the subsequent impact hosts a ‘tough’ fight in the series. announce the postponement of on energy levels. involved in three of them — first work, and see more coverage Some of England’s players “I think people are writing the Gulf Challenge, which was There’s a sense that England against New Zealand in 2015 on TV in the evenings. played with a pink ball as a trial the West Indies off too early,” scheduled to start next month, to is treating the match at Edgbas- and then against South Africa Pink balls are used instead in a day-night round of County team manager Joel Garner said, the 2018-2019 season. There is ton as a learning experience as and Pakistan. Pakistan beat of red ones so that there can be Championship matches in late “and it could be at their own a positive side to this decision in much as a Test. It’s unusual for West Indies in Dubai in Octo- better visibility for batsmen and June. They are scheduled to play peril.” that it gives us more time to a top international sports team ber 2016. fielders under the lights. Eng- a day-night Test at Adelaide England captain Joe Root organise, promote and prepare to feel so underprepared for a The International Cricket land will be using a pink Dukes during the upcoming Ashes said yesterday that Mark Stone- in the way that we want to and game. Council introduced the option ball, rather than the Kookaburra series against Australia, and also man will make his debut, it will also help those eager to “We’re going to have to be of countries playing day-night used in Australia. one on the tour of New Zealand replacing Keaton Jennings to participate to better prepare so adaptable and figure out Tests in a bid to “enhance the England’s players have said in March. become the latest batsman to themselves, so that we can attract what’s going on,” Broad said. public appeal of cricket’s oldest the Dukes ball goes soft quickly, The terms “lunch” and “tea” partner Alastair Cook at the top as many competitors as possible “The exciting thing is we are format” and so that Test cricket is hard to shine, and doesn’t turn will still be used for the inter- of the innings. Allrounder Chris next season.” going in with a clear mind and “remains relevant in the mod- as much for spinners. Chris vals at Edgbaston, even though Woakes and 20-year-old leg- The Gulf Challenge will be learning on the job, almost.” ern age.” It means, for example, Woakes said the ball moved the lunch break will come at 4 spinner Mason Crane, both decided over rounds in Qatar, This will be the fifth day- that some spectators can drop around more in the “twilight p.m. local time, and will be the named in a 13-man squad, will Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain. night Test match, with Australia in to the ground after school or period.” same length — 40 minutes for be left out of the team. Kuwait and Oman. Serena eyes ‘outrageous’ Nishikori to miss rest of Australian Open return season with wrist injury ReutersReu AFP erena Williams (pictured) aims to defend her Austral- orld number nine Kei Nishikorii (pictured) ian Open title next year, the American saying the rapid will miss the remainder of the 201717 ATP sea- Sreturn to action would only give her around three Wson after suffering a torn tendon in his right monthsm to prepare after giving birth to her first child. wrist, his management team announced yesterday.yesterday. The 23-times grand slam winner announced her The 27-year-old Asian number one willl miss thethe pregnancy in April and will be on maternity leave for upcoming US Open, on the New York hardcourtsdcourts the rest of the year. where he has produced his best Grand SlamSlam Williams is one grand slam shy of Australian Mar- results - a 2014 runner-up finish and a semi-semi- garetg Court’s long-standing record of 24 major titles. final run last year. SPORT THURSDAY 17 AUGUST 2017 25 Stoneman set for debut in Windies series opener Birmingham game, he’s a bit more experi- AFP enced having played a lot of county cricket and I’m excited ark Stoneman will to see him hopefully take his be the lone opportunity.” change to Eng- But with an Ashes tour on the land’s side for the horizon, Root refused to say how Los Angeles Dodgers centre fielder Joc Pederson (right) start of the first long Stoneman would have to and catcher Austin Barnes (centre) are greeted by third MTest against the West Indies at make his mark. baseman Justin Turner after both scored runs in the eighth Edgbaston today, captain Joe “Who knows. Ideally you inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodgers Stadium Root announced. want someone to come in and in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Surrey opener Stoneman, 30, set the world alight and their was all set for a Test debut the career move forward from there. moment a 13-man squad was “I’d like to think he would get MLB: Dodgers down unveiled after England dropped a very good opportunity and his struggling former Durham some good game time with team-mate Keaton Jennings fol- England. White Sox to move 50 lowing a recent 3-1 home Test “Of course you want it (the series win over South Africa.