SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2014 Schumi turns 45 in coma Family, fans celebrate Schumacher birthday GRENOBLE: Fans of Michael Schumacher gath- up.” Fans left a poster outside the Grenoble hospital ‘WE WANT HIM TO RETURN TO US’ insignia-of exceeding the limits of good taste. The ered yesterday for a silent vigil for the Formula saying “Schumi, All our Thoughts for You and Your “He is one of my greatest idols. We want him to carmaker, which has 130 clubs in Europe, has pro- One legend’s 45th birthday as he lay in a coma in Family.” “Schumi has given us a lot in the past,” said fight and to return to us,” said French fan Gabriel vided about 20 coaches across Italy to bus in fans a French hospital after a weekend skiing accident. 47-year-old accountant Stefano Pini, who arrived Klose, who turned up with his 12-year-old son. for the vigil. But Roberto Luongo, president of the Ferrari, which is bussing in scores of fans from from Milan to pay tribute. “The least we could do is However, the Ferrari tribute has created controversy Roma-Colesseo Ferrari club, said he did not want to Italy and France to the hospital in the Alpine city to come here and support him and his family on his with some accusing the Italian racing giant-which be associated with an event linked to “a man who is of Grenoble, put a special message on its website, birthday.” asked fans to sport its trademark colour red and its suffering”. “It’s very delicate and if I was among saying “Forza Michael,” or “Go Michael” in Italian. those who are close to Michael, such an initiative “He is tackling the most important fight of his life would not have pleased me,” he said. and therefore we want to send him very special Schumacher’s fan club in his childhood town of wishes,” said Schumacher’s old team, as similar Kerpen said any celebration of the birthday would messages poured in from around the world. be in bad taste. There have been conflicting state- German former tennis ace Boris Becker wished his ments about the speed Schumacher was going compatriot “Happy Birthday” on Twitter, adding when he crashed in the upmarket Meribel ski resort, “Fight Schumi” in a German hashtag. where he has a property. The impact as he hit a rock The retired seven-time world champion split his helmet in two, according to a source close to slammed his head against a rock on Sunday while the investigation. The hospital and Schumacher’s skiing in the French Alps and has had two opera- manager had briefed the press daily since the acci- tions to remove bleeding and pressure on his brain. dent but on Thursday they said they would commu- The accident shocked legions of fans used to seeing nicate only if there was something new to report. His Schumacher cheat death on the race track. He is manager Sabine Kehm said Wednesday that being kept in an induced coma and in the latest Schumacher was stable though still critical. The hos- health update given by his manager on Wednesday, pital has faced frenzied media and public interest in his condition was described as stable but still criti- its famous patient and a vacant lot nearby has been cal. His family is at his side, including his wife turned into an impromptu parking area for televi- Corinna, his two teenage children, his father Rolf sion satellite vans. Kehm said earlier this week that and brother Ralph, who is also a racing driver. some people had tried to sneak into Schumacher’s “Following Michael’s skiing accident, we would like room, one dressed as a priest. Questions have to thank the people from all around the world who emerged over exactly how the accident happened have expressed their sympathy and sent their best GRENOBLE: Fans of German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher hold flags of on a small, seemingly innocuous off-piste section of wishes for his recovery,” the family said in a state- the Ferrari Formula One team as they stand in front of the Grenoble University Hospital Meribel located between two ski slopes one classed ment. “We all know he is a fighter and will not give Centre, to mark his 45th birthday yesterday. — AFP as easy and the other as intermediate. —AFP Lanka offers to host Ton-up Mathews helps Asia Cup, World T20 COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is ready to step in and host the Asia Sri Lanka foil Pakistan Cup one-day tournament and the World Twenty20 if the two events are pulled out of violence-plagued Bangladesh, a top official said yesterday. The Asia Cup had been scheduled to ABU DHABI: Sri Lankan captain Angelo the second new ball, taken at 249-4, knock. Prasanna has so far hit five fours be held between February 24 and March 7 in the Bangladeshi Mathews hit a pugnacious hundred to failed to benefit Pakistan with a wicket and six in his able assistance of capital Dhaka, which has been hit by violent protests and pull Sri Lanka out of trouble on the as Sri Lanka reached 285-4 at lunch. Mathews. Left-arm paceman Junaid was strikes in the build-up to tomorrow’s general election. fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan had one chance to dismiss the best Pakistani bowler with 3-81 Bangladesh is also due to host the 16-nation World Pakistan in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Chandimal in the second over after while fellow fast bowler Bilawal Bhatti Twenty20 tournament, the nation’s biggest ever sporting Mathews notched up 116 not out under lunch when a edge off Bilawal Bhatti took 2-131. event, from March 16 to April 6. The Asian Cricket Council pressure for his second Test hundred flew close to Ahmed Shehzad’s out- Pakistan coach Mohammad Akram (ACC) is meeting in Colombo on Saturday to decide if the and put on invaluable 138-run partner- stretched hands in the second slip when said his bowlers did their best. “Our regional competition that features India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka ship for the fifth wicket with Dinesh the batsman was 71. Finally, Junaid bowlers put up their best effort but and Bangladesh can go ahead in Dhaka. Chandimal (89) and 99 for the unfin- broke the stand at 324 when he had Mathews and Chandimal batted very “We are ready to host the Asia Cup if the ACC wants ished sixth wicket with Prasanna Chandmial caught at deep fine-leg off a well,” said Akram. “If they are bowled another venue,” Sri Lanka Cricket’s secretary Nishantha Jayawardene (48 not out) to take Sri miscued hook. Chandimal batted for out in the first hour we can fancy our Ranatunga said in Colombo. Lanka to 420-5 at close at Sheikh Zayed 251 minutes and hit a dozen bound- chances of winning the match.” Pakistan “We have the grounds and the necessary infrastructure to Stadium. aries. started the day on a wrong note when host an event like that at short notice. “We are also ready to Sri Lanka resumed the day at 186-4, But even after Chandimal’s exit, wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal was ruled host the World Twenty20 if we are asked.” Election-related but Mathews’ career-best score and res- Mathews and Prasanna batted without out of the three-Test series with a frac- violence in Bangladesh has claimed more than 140 lives since olute innings by Chandimal and any problems to leave Pakistani bowlers tured finger and Younis Khan had to late October, with opposition parties boycotting the polls Prasanna helped Sri Lanka add 234 runs frustrated. Mathews’s previous best of keep wickets. Sarfraz Ahmed has been and organizing a series of blockades across the country. The for the loss of only one wicket. They now 105 not out came against Australia at summoned as Akmal’s replacement for three venues chosen for the World Twenty20 - capital Dhaka, lead by 241 runs and with five wickets Colombo in 2011 and followed up his 91 the next two Tests, second in Dubai Chittagong and Sylhet-have all experienced violence over the intact can harbour hopes of an unlikely in Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 204. (January 8-12) and Sharjah (January 16- past month. win on the fifth and final day or at least Pakistan had made 383 in their first 20). — AFP A spokesman for the International Cricket Council, which salvage a draw. owns the tournament said last month that the world body Chandimal praised Mathews’s knock. was “actively monitoring” the situation in Bangladesh. The “He batted well at a crucial stage and SCOREBOARD danger posed to teams was underlined in December when a batted like a captain,” said Chandimal. small bomb exploded outside the hotel of the West Indies With a bit of spin on the pitch we keep ABU DHABI: Scores at close on the fourth day of the first Test between Pakistan Under-19 team in the port city of Chittagong, prompting our fingers crossed (for a win) and a and Sri Lanka at Sheikh Zayed Stadium yesterday: them to cut short their tour. The Pakistan Cricket Board said 300-plus target might be a winning Sri Lanka 1st innings 204 (A. D. Chandimal c Ali b Junaid 89 on Thursday it was seeking its government’s advice about one.” Mathews batted with resolve, Mathews 91; Junaid Khan 5-58, Bilawal A. Mathews not out 116 sending a team for the World Twenty20 due to the continu- blunting off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and Bhatti 3-65).