Kohli slams ton, India near victory in D/N Test at Eden Gardens PAGE 14 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2019 Arabian Gulf Cup: QFA launches support initiative for Al Annabi Oman arrive Local Organising Committee briefs Qatar squad on tournament laws QNA/TNN DOHA THE Qatar Football Associa- tion (QFA) has launched an initiative to support Al An- nabi in the 24th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup to be held in Doha from November 26 to December 8. Eight teams including Qa- tar, UAE, Yemen, Iraq, Bah- rain, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are participating in the tournament. Qatar’s first national team (the Maroons) will begin their campaign with the tourna- ment opening match against Iraq on Tuesday at the Khalifa International Stadium. The initiative brings to- gether many artists and Qatari football veterans as well as social media celebrities who were keen on inviting support- ers and fans of the Qatari team Four Qatari to encourage and support the referees to team to go on to title and lift the championship cup for the officiate fourth time in Qatar’s football- Doha: The Referees’ commit- ing history. tee of the Arab Gulf Cup Fed- Qatar are playing hosts eration (AGCF) has selected to the prestigious the tourna- four international referees to ment for the fourth time, hav- Qatar players during a training session at Aspire Academy on Saturday. join the list of referees who ing hosted the same in 1992, will be officiating during the 2004 and 2014. 24th Arabian Gulf Cup. Those The QFA initiative, which selected are Khamis Moham- was launched immediately med al Marri and Mohammed after the end of the match be- Ahmed al Shammari, and tween Qatar and Afghanistan in the international assistant the joint qualifiers for the 2022 referees Mohammed Jaber Players and officials of the Oman football team for the 24th Arabian Cup soon after their arrival at the World Cup and the 2023 Asian Zerman and Ramzan Saeed Hamad International Airport on Saturday. Cup, the Qatari support cam- al Nuaimi. The referees’ list paign by QFA and its Marketing comprises 32 referees and Committee was held through assistant referees from nine events on streets and in shop- countries, namely: Kuwait; ping malls across Doha as Oman; Iraq; Qatar; Yemen; well as on roads leading to the UAE; Bahrain; Belgium and Khalifa International Stadium, Switzerland. Meanwhile, a which will host Qatar’s matches delegation of Qatari football during the tournament. officials team arrived in Kinok On Saturday, the Qatar to participate in the referees national team players were exchange programme with the hosted by the Local Organis- Belgian Football Association ing Committee (LOC) ahead of (BFA). The delegation includes the 24 Arabian Gulf Cup. The Meshary Ali al Shammari; meeting was organised by the Majid Hudaires al Shammari; LOC to update the team on the Mohammed Abdullah al Oun; tournament laws. Qatar captain Hassan al Haydos being honoured by the LOC. Fahd Mohammed al Jassim; Meanwhile, the Oman Abdul Rahman Mohammed al team delegation arrived at the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup. ment will kick-off on Tuesday Saud and Yousef Abdul Aziz Hamad International Airport with Qatar taking on Iraq at the al Marzouqi. Qatari referees in Doha on Saturday and ac- Teams prepare Khalifa International Stadium, will officiate in a number of corded a warm welcome. Hosts and Asian Cup 2019 while Yemen meet UAE at the matches, besides participat- Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and champions Qatar continued Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. ing in fitness training and the United Arab Emirates will their preparations training un- Qatar are in Group A with analytical meetings of the be arriving on Sunday. der the watchful eyes of their UAE, Yemen and Iraq while Referees’ Committee of the The Qatar national team players being briefed about the tournament’s laws by the Local Organising Yemen and Iraq were the coach Felix Sanchez at the Group B consists Oman, Saudi Belgian FA. (QNA) Committee on Saturday ahead of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup which begins on Tuesday (November 26). first teams to arrive for the Aspire Academy. The tourna- Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. Vodafone Qatar confirmed as official Gulf Cup telecommunications sponsor TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Gulf Cup Football Federation so will fans’ expectation for Our mission is to make it easy event that is close to the heart DOHA (AGCFF) and the Qatar Foot- super-fast connectivity. The for people to communicate, of the region’s many football ball Association (QFA), the ability to share videos, pic- and sport is an ideal way for fans. We are confident that A world-class connectivity ex- tournament will be held from tures and messages with peo- us to showcase our expertise. Vodafone’s network and infra- perience awaits football enthu- November 26 to December ple online will be an important The transformative potential structure will greatly enhance siasts in Doha, with Vodafone 8, 2019, with eight nations aspect of the fan experience of Vodafone’s communica- communications around the Qatar confirmed as the Official participating – Iraq, Kuwait, and with thousands of people tions technology is becoming Gulf Cup tournament and Telecommunications Sponsor Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, expected to attend the tourna- increasingly visible in sporting contribute to delivering a fab- of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup. the United Arab Emirates, ment, the level of connectivity events hosted by Qatar in the ulous spectacle.” As part of the sponsorship, the Bahrain and the host country and sharing will be exception- lead up to the world’s biggest Since becoming a 100% company will provide state-of- Qatar. Thousands of football al. Innovative technologies en- sporting event in 2022.” Qatari company, Vodafone Qa- the-art telecommunications fans from Qatar, the region abling fans to stay connected Commenting on the spon- tar has begun to implement a infrastructure including its Gi- and the world are expected to during the tournament will ecutive Officer, Sheikh Hamad We look forward to deliver- sorship Nasser al Khater, full strategy to pioneer the tel- gaNet network at the tourna- attend the hotly anticipated form a large part of delivering Abdulla al Thani, said: “We are ing world-class connectiv- CEO of the Local Organising ecommunications technology ment stadiums – Khalifa Inter- event and show their support an unforgettable experience truly proud to be the nation’s ity and giving football fans an Committee, said: “We are de- that will accelerate digital era national Stadium and Abdulla for their national teams. for those inside the tourna- trusted telecommunications unforgettable experience that lighted to welcome Vodafone connectivity for Qatar and the Bin Khalifa Stadium. As the 24th Arabian Gulf ment venues partner for this year’s highly helps bring teams and sup- Qatar as our official Telecom- region, including leading the Organised by the Arab Cup preparations accelerate, Vodafone Qatar Chief Ex- anticipated Arabian Gulf Cup. porters even closer together. munications Sponsor for an rapid roll out of 5G technology. 14 Sunday, November 24, 2019 Sports Day/Night Test at Eden Gardens Pak slide to 64-3 after massive Labuschagne, India on brink of Warner tons at Gabba AFP big win vs Bangla BRISBANE (AUSTRALIA) AUSTRALIA look certain to take a 1-0 lead in their series Kohli slams 27th century; Ishant Sharma grabs four wickets in 2nd essay against Pakistan after domi- nating with both bat and ball AFP on day three of the firstT est in KOLKATA Brisbane on Saturday. Big centuries to Marnus A sparkling century by Virat Labuschagne (185) and David Kohli and Ishant Sharma’s Warner (154) helped Australia four wickets put India on the to a first innings total of 580 in cusp of a big win over Bang- reply to Pakistan’s 240. ladesh on just the second day At stumps Pakistan were in of their maiden day-night Test big trouble on 64 for three, still on Saturday. needing 276 runs to make Aus- Tourists Bangladesh were tralia bat again. 152 for six at stumps in their Shan Masood was not out second innings, still needing 89 27 and Babar Azam was 20 at runs to avoid an innings defeat the close. in the Kolkata pink ball Test. Mitchell Starc did the early Kohli made 136 as India, damage for the Australians in who lead the two-match series the final hour of the day’s play, 1-0, declared their innings on trapping captain Azhar Ali leg Australia’s batsman Marnus Labuschagne (left) greets David Warner 347 for nine and then Ishant before for five. for his 150 runs on day two of the first Test cricket match against rattled the Bangladesh batting. He then enticed Haris So- Pakistan at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday. (AFP) “Batting under lights was hail to waft at a ball well out- difficult. When I batted yes- side off stump, only to get a terday, even when I saw on TV thick edge to Australian wick- SCOREBOARD what was happening I think etkeeper Tim Paine. PAKISTAN (1ST INNINGS): 240 7-546 (Labuschagne), 8-559 (Starc), 9-567 first session is slightly easier Asad Shafiq was next to fall, AUSTRALIA (1ST INNINGS, OVERNIGHT 312-1) (Cummins), 10-580 (Hazlewood). D. Warner c Rizwan b Shah ..............................154 Bowling: Afridi 34-7-96-2 (2nb), Imran 24-3-73-1, to bat,” said Indian batsman edging Pat Cummins to second J. Burns b Yasir ................................................... 97 Naseem 20-1-68-1 (1w), Iftikhar 12-0-53-0, Yasir Cheteshwar Pujara, who made India captain Virat Kohli (2nd left) with Mohammed Shami (left), Ishant Sharma (second right) and Umesh Yadav slip where Steve Smith took a M.