FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 RRUGBYUGBY | Page 4 Liverpool in Ford at fl y-half quarters aft er as England thrilling win unchanged against Arsenal for WC fi nal Friday, November 1, 2019 BASEBALL Rabia I 4, 1441 AH Nationals stun GULF TIMES Astros to clinch World Series SPORT Page 5 QNB STARS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Maxwell takes break from cricket over Brahimi double as mental health issues Reuters Melbourne ustralia all-rounder Al Rayyan go top Glenn Maxwell is taking an indefi nite break from cricket with AL RAYYAN AND AL SAILIYA HAD AN EQUAL SHARE OF BALL POSSESSION Aimmediate eff ect as he under- goes treatment for mental health issues, coach Justin Langer said. Maxwell, who played in Aus- tralia’s two T20 wins against Sri Lanka in recent days and starred in the Adelaide series-opener, will be replaced by batsman D’Arcy Short for the third and fi nal match in Melbourne today. Langer said he had spoken to Langer said. Maxwell after sensing some- Melbourne man Maxwell thing was amiss with the hard- ranks among Australia’s top- hitting 31-year-old before the earning athletes, enjoying Adelaide game, Australia’s fi rst global prestige as a coveted international of the home sum- gun-for-hire in domestic T20 mer. competitions. But his goal of “I’m not sure what prompted breaking into the Test side, seen (it) just before Adelaide,” Langer as the pinnacle of the sport in told reporters in Melbourne. Australia, has largely been frus- “But you just could tell it was trated. not quite right and he probably He has been dropped several wasn’t going to say (anything). times in his career of seven tests “Even though in Adelaide he and was snubbed for the Ashes had that incredible innings and series played in England over fi elded like a genius like he can, I August-September. Australia By Sports Reporter with VAR. don’t think he got much joy out retained the urn. Doha Earlier, Qatar SC beat Al Shahania 1-0. of it, to be honest.” While a number of local pun- Uzbek striker Sardor Rashidov (45+1) A fan favourite and one of dits felt selectors had dealt with Al Rayyan’s Yacine scored the winning goal for Qatar SC as Australia’s most devastating Maxwell harshly, the cricketer lgerian international Yacine Brahimi gestures they moved on to nine points following batsmen in short-format crick- said he had moved on. Brahimi continued to exhibit his after scoring against their third victory. et, Maxwell was in fi ne touch at “You can’t play cricket bit- brilliance as his double helped Al Sailiya in the QNB The Kings had defeated Umm Salal 5-0 Adelaide Oval where he blasted ter, it detracts from yourself and Al Rayyan edge past Al Sailiya Stars League yesterday. last week. Their other victory was against 62 off 29 balls to hasten his team makes you stop concentrating A2-0 in Week 9 of the QNB Stars League at Al Khor (2-1) in Week 5. to a 134-run victory. on what you need to do,” Max- Photo on top shows the Al Ahli Stadium yesterday. Al Rayyan players Qatar SC have been making steady He was also his usual energet- well said in a recent interview Both of Brahimi’s goals (seventh and celebrating their progress ever since they had a change at ic presence in the fi eld, eff ecting with Espncricinfo. 90+3 minutes) had individual brilliance victory. the helm, with former Qatar internation- a brilliant run-out and engaging A number of top Australian written all over them. The attacking mid- PICTURES: Noushad T al and Al Sadd midfi elder Wesam Rizik in banter with broadcasters. cricketers have battled mental fi elder, who represented top Portuguese coming in place of Spanish coach Carlos “They often put on a mask,” health problems in recent years. side Porto and the Algerian national team Alos Ferrer recently. Langer said of people suff ering Much-hyped talent Will Pu- for long, is proving a worthy addition ever Al Shahania, who were coming from mental health problems. covski took a break from domes- since he joined Al Rayyan at the start of three consecutive draws (against Umm “In public positions they have tic cricket a year ago and also this season. Salal, Al Ahli and Al Sailiya) could not to put on a mask all the time. withdrew from the test squad in Al Rayyan raised their points tally to make a breakthrough and lost three cru- That’s his armour, his energy January to undergo treatment. 21 and are top of the table now, while Al cial points. and the way he plays.” Three-Test batsman Nic Sailiya remained on 11. Qatar SC dominated possession (57 per Maxwell, who has played 110 Maddinson also took time off in It was also The Lions’ sixth straight cent) in the fi rst half even though A Sha- one-day internationals and 61 2017 after being dropped from victory. They thus made up for their se- hania succeeded in restricting them from T20Is, will be assessed in Mel- the test side before returning to date start to the tournament and stay as scoring in regular time. bourne over the next “day or so”, the game after treatment. strong title-contending side. Qatar SC created more chances, while Al Rayyan and Al Sailiya had precisely Al Shahania players resorted to wayward equal share of ball possession in terms of shooting and headers. F1 presents new car and rules revamp for 2021 percentage. Al Sailiya even matched their Al Rayyan had almost doubled the Sailiya’s spearhead. He had a header go However, The Kings went into the half- more famous rivals ball for ball, but it was lead in the 13th minute, but for Al Sailiya over the bar in the 29th minute. Overall, time break on the back of a one-goal lead, A mockup of Al Rayyan who created more opportuni- goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker tipping The Peregrines’ attacks lacked bite. thanks to Rashidov who easily placed a car is shown ties. Brahimi scored his fi rst goal after the ball over the bar after Rodrigo Tabata Al Sailiya appealed for a penalty to- home a cross from Kayke Rodriguez in on a screen latching on to a through pass by Khaled fi red a free-kick. wards the end after Al Rayyan defender stoppage time. in a press Muftah and evading the tackle of Mostafa Tabata was later replaced by Sebastian Dami Traore brought down Ansari inside Ali Ferydoon and Ramin Rezaein tried conference to Abdelhamid. He scored for a second time Soria. the box, but referee Abdulrahman al- hard to draw parity for Al Shahania in the announce the off a defl ection off a rival player. Iranian striker Karim Ansari was Al Jassim decided against it in consultation second half, but in vain. rules for the 2021 Formula One season in SPOTLIGHT Austin, Texas, yesterday. Al Shaqab’s Khataab wins Group 1 in Bordeaux Austin: Formula One pre- ness for all,” said Formula One sented a dramatic overhaul of chairman Chase Carey. the sport yesterday with a new “The approval of the rules by By Our Correspondent car and regulations aimed at the World Motorsport Council Bordeaux, France producing closer and cheaper is a watershed moment and competition from 2021 as well will help deliver more exciting as more exciting and environ- wheel to wheel racing for all l Shaqab Racing’s Khataab landed the mentally-friendly racing. our fans.” French Purebred Arabian Breeders’ Chal- The new technical, sporting The heavier 2021 cars are the lenge, a Group 1 for four-year-old and older and financial rules include a products of a changed aerody- Purebred Arabians, in Bordeaux, France, budget cap and represent the namic approach, with simpler Ayesterday. The Thomas Fourcy-trained seven-year- fruit of two years of discus- front wings and bigger wheels. old lined up in the 1900m event as the favourite and sions between teams, govern- The budget cap has been did not disappoint, winning by four lengths in front ing body and US-based com- set at $175mn for each team, of his nearest rival. mercial rights holders Liberty about half what some of the In the early stage of the black type event, grey son Media and other stakeholders. top outfits like Mercedes, of Amer sat in the rear through the race before cruis- They were earlier approved Ferrari or Red Bull spend at ing past the outside of the racing pack to win with unanimously by the govern- present but still much more impressive ease in the hands of jockey Jerome Cabre. ing FIA’s World Motor Sport than some others can muster. It was a one-two for Al Shaqab Racing and Fourcy Council, with talks continuing Formula One’s managing with Kair Al Cham being the runner-up under Julien over governance and profit director for motorsport Ross Auge. X Thomas-Demeaulte-trained Belqees, ridden sharing. Brawn recognised the new by Ioritz Mendizabal, was a further length behind in “The goal has always been to cars would be slower than the third. improve the competition and 2019 ones, but still quick and Alban de Mieulle-bred Khataab came here off an action on the track and at the closer to the levels of perform- excellent second place in the Group 1 Qatar Arabian same time make the sport a ance seen in 2016 as well as World Cup, which was run on the Qatar Prix de l’Arc Jerome Cabre rides Khataab to French Purebred Arabian Breeders’ Challenge (Group 1) in Bordeaux, France, healthier and attractive busi- easier to follow and overtake.